Madam Rides the Bus Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English First Flight

In this article, we are providing Madam Rides the Bus Extra Questions and Answers PDF Class 10 English First Flight CBSE, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

Madam Rides the Bus Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English First Flight

Extract Based Questions [3 Marks each]

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow
Question 1.
But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.
(a) Why did Valli kept on standing at the doorway?
(b) How did Valli feel while standing at the doorway?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘not very common’.
(d) How was valli different from children of her age?
Answer:
(a) Valli kept on standing at the doorway to watch the happenings on the street outside.
(b) Watching the street gave Valli many new experiences. She felt joyous standing at the doorway.
(c) ‘Unusual’ from the extract means ‘not very common’.
(d) Valli was different from children of her age as she was not interested in playing any elaborate games.

Question 2.
The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.
(a) How many times did the bus pass?
(b) What was the source of unending joy for Valli?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘never ending’.
(d) What was the most fascinating thing for Valli?
Answer:
(a) The bus passed through Valli’s street once in an hour.
(b) The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.
(c) ‘Unending’ from the extract means ‘never ending’.
(d) The most fascinating thing for Valli was watching the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town.

Question 3.
The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes.
(a) How much was the fare of the bus?
(b) How long would it take to complete her journey to reach back home?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘luck’.
(d) What has been called ‘fortune’ for Valli?
Answer:
(a) The fare of the bus was thirty paise for one side.
(b) It would take one hour thirty minutes for Valli to complete her journey.
(c) ‘Fortune’ from the extract means ‘luck’.
(d) The bus fare which was thirty paise only a sum considered so small, has been called ‘fortune’ for Valli.

Question 4.
“Okay, okay, but first you must get on the bus,” said the conductor, and he stretched out a hand to help her up. “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”    [CBSE2014]
(a) Why did the conductor gave Valli a hand of help?
(b) How did Valli reacted to the conductor?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘extended’.
(d) What trait of Valli’s character has been shown in the extract?
Answer:
(a) The conductor gave a helping hand to Valli so that she can climb the bus.
(b) Valli refused taking help from the conductor and said that she would get on the bus by herself.
(c) ‘Stretched’ from the extract means ‘extended’.
(d) The extract shows Valli as a self-dependent girl who didn’t seek anybody’s help.

Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
Who was Valli?
Answer:
Valli was the short name of Valliamai. She was an eight year old girl who was very curious.

Question 2.
Why did Valli kept standing infront of the door?
Answer:
Valli kept standing infront of the door as there were no playmates of her age on her street. So, she used to keep on watching the street outside her house.

Question 3.
What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street?
Answer:
The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back.

Question 4.
How did Valli gathered all the information about the bus?
Answer:
Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she gathered all the information about the bus.

Question 5.
Where was the town located? What was the fare to travel there by bus?
Answer:
The town was located six miles from Valli’s village. The fare to travel to town by bus was thirty paise for one way.

Question 6.
What did Valli kept on planning and calculating continuously?
Answer:
Vails kept on planning and calculating which bus to take, how much time it will take to reach the town and the fare that would be required in completing her journey.

Question 7.
How was the interior and exterior of the bus?
Answer:
It was a new bus. Its outside was painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. There was a beautiful clock above the windshield and its seats were soft and luxurious.

Question 8.
How was the view outside the bus when it went through the canal?       [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields.

Question 9.
Why did the conductor wanted Valli to sit?
Answer:
The conductor initially told Valli that as she has paid for the ticket, she should sit. When she refused he told her that she may fall and hurt herself when the bus takes a sharp turn.

Question 10.
Why didn’t Valli want to talk to the elderly woman?
Answer:
The elderly woman was wearing ugly earrings and was chewing betel nut. The betel juice was about to seep out of her mouth. Valli found all this repulsive and hence did not wanted to talk to her

Question 11.
What questions did the old woman ask Valli?
Answer:
The old woman asked Valli if she was travelling alone. She also asked her whether she knew where exactly she had to go in the town.

Question 12.
How did Valli save money to travel by bus?     [CBSE2013]
Answer:
Valli had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way. She resisted every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and ride on the merry-go-round at the village fair to save money for her bus journey.

Question 13.
How did Valli manage to travel by bus without the knowledge of her mother?
Answer:
Valli managed to travel by bus without the knowledge of her mother as she was asleep when Valli went out.

Question 14.
How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road?     [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
Valli was filled with sadness. She thought what had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible and frightening.

Question 15.
What did Valli see when she reached home?
Answer:
On reaching back home Valli saw that her mother was awake and talking to one of her aunts.

Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each]

Question 1.
In such a fast moving world when we hear so many incidents happening with people, do you think Valli did right by not telling her mother about the bus journey?      [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
No, I don’t think that Valli did the right thing in travelling alone to the town without informing her mother. By doing this, she put herself in a vulnerable position as she could have easily been a victim of child abuse had she come in contact with wrong people. In fact, she was lucky to return home safelty.
Children should always travel along with their parents or elders as they are easy targets for criminals. We hear a lot of instances of crime committed against children these days like kidnapping, child abuse, molestation, rape etc. Valli could have expressed her desire of travelling in the bus to her mother. I am sure that her mother would have fulfilled her wish by talking her on a bus ride.

Question 2.
The people and surroundings are a great book to learn. Valli in the lesson ‘Madam Rides The Bus’ learns a lot from others. Mention the traits of her character which help her to learn from her surroundings.
Answer:
Valli dreamt of riding on the bus. Her eagerness to fulfill her dream fired her curiosity. This curiousness led her to listen to the conversations of people going on the bus ride and asking discreet questions so that she could gather as much information as she can regarding the bus journey.
On the bus journey, Valli acted confidently and behaved maturedly. She did not consider herself to be any less than an adult. She was focused on fulfilling her dream and did not get tempted to go outside the bus and explore the town when the bus reached the town.
On the return journey, she learnt about death when she came to terms with the dead cow. This made her aware of the fact that death is a part of life and should be accepted as it is a natural phenomenon. Thus, the bus journey made her learn a lot of things.

Question 3.
Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age?    [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at a very young age. Same goes with Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli was able to pursue her dream all alone by travelling in the bus to town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain characteristics that made her fulfil her dreams. Valli was a very confident and a bold girl. She had a knowledge of proper planning and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the bus ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these qualities made her realise the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one should always remember that there is no age to learn and experience new things.

Question 4.
What kind of person is Valli? Illustrate your answer from the text that you have read.     [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Valli was a detetmined, confident and brave girl. She was also a good planner and executioner. She sacrificed a lot of things to achieve her dream. For example, she curbed the temptation to buy sweets and riding on the merry-go-round in the fair so that she could save money for the bus ride. Sacrificing all these things at such a tender age is very difficult for a child. She also behaved confidently in the bus and did not get bobbed down in the presence of elders.
When the bus reached the town, Valli did not succumb to the temptation of going out to explore the town or having a drink. She did this as she had a limited amount of money which she wanted to ‘ save for her return journey. So, Valli used her money wisely. When the conductor offered her a drink, she showed good manners in refusing to have it.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

A Letter to God Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English First Flight

In this article we are providing A Letter to God Extra Questions and Answers PDF Class 10 English First Flight CBSE, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

A Letter to God Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English First Flight

Extract Based Questions [3 Marks each]

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
The house- the only one in the entire valley- sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and the field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only thing the Earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho who knew his fields intimately had done nothing else but see the sky towards the North-East. “Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.
” The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”.
(a) Where was Lencho’s house located?
(b) What was Lencho’s wife preparing?
(c) Find the word from the passage which means ‘very closely’.
(d) What does ‘Crest’ means?
Answer:
Lencho’s house was located on the crest of a low hill.
(b) Lencho’s wife was preparing supper.
(c) The word is ‘Intimately’.
(d) Crest means the top part of a hill.

Question 2.
It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the North-East huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body.          [CBSE 2012]
(a) What could be seen approaching in the North-East?
(b) Why did Lencho go out?
(c) Give an antonym of the word Big.
(d) Which word in the passage is a synonym of ‘forecast’.

Answer:
(a) Huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching in the North-East.
(b) Lencho went out to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body.
(c) The word is ‘small’.
(d) The word ‘predict’ is a synonym of forecast.

Question 3.
With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a. curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and alongwith the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.
(a) What happened to the rain suddenly?
(b) ‘The frozen pearls’ refers to which thing in the paragraph.
(c) Find the similar meaning-of ‘contented’ in the paragraph.
(d) Find from the passage a word which means ‘to take after’.

Answer:
(a) The rain suddenly changed into hailstones.
(b) ‘The frozen pearls’ refers to hailstones.
(c) The word is ‘Satisfied’.
(d) The word is ‘Resemble’.

Question 4.
Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said to his sons. “A plague of locusts would have left more than this. The hail has left nothing.
(a) Describe Lencho’s feeling as shown in the passage.
(b) What happened to the crop when the storm had passed?
(c) Find the word that means the opposite of ‘restored’ as used in the passage.
(d) What do you mean by ‘hail’ in the last line?

Answer:
(a) Lencho was filled with sadness when the storm had passed.
(b) The crop was completely destroyed when the storm had passed.
(c) The word is ‘destroyed’.
(d) ‘Hail’ is balls of ice that falls from the sky in the form of rain.

Question 5.
“That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.” All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write.       [CBSE 2014]
(a) What was Lencho’s only hope?
(b) How did Lencho work in the field?
(c) Find the exact word of similar meaning ‘moral sense’ given in the passage.
(d) Explain ‘an or of a man’.

Answer:
(a) Lencho’s only hope was the help of God.
(b) Lencho worked as an ‘ox’ in the field.
(c) The word is ‘conscience’.
(d) It means a man working hard like an ox or animal.

Question 6.
The postmaster- a fat, amiable fellow- also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and tapping the letter on his desk, commented. “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting.up a correspondence with God!”
So, in order ndt to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper. But he stuck to his resolution: he asked for money from his employees, he himself gave part of his salary and several friends of his vreie obliged io give something ‘for an act of charity’.
(a) What kind of a person the postmaster was?
(b) How did the postmaster help Lencho?
(c) Find the exact word in similar meaning ‘without delay’ given in the passage.
(d) Determination is synonymous with …………….

Answer:
(a) The postmaster was a fat, amiable and helpful fellow.
(b) The postmaster helped Lencho by collecting money from his employees and friends.
(c) The word is ‘Immediately’.
(d) Determination is synonym with Resolution.

Question 7.
The following Sunday, Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office.
Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence, but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.
(a) Why did Lencho come earlier to the post office?
(b) Why wasLencho angry when he counted money?
(c) Find the word which means the opposite of permitted from the passage.
(d) Which word in the passage gives the meaning ‘that one will be successful one day’.

Answer:
(a) Lencho came earlier to the post office to know if there was a letter for him.
(b) Lencho was angry when he counted money as it was not the full amount that he had demanded from God.
(c) The word is ‘denied’.
(d) The word is ‘confidence’.

Question 8.
When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a ‘bunch of crooks’. Lencho.”                      [CBSE 2016]
(a) What did Lencho do wijh the stamp?
(b) What did the postmaster do when the letter fell into the mailbox and why?
(c) Find out the word which has the similar meaning as ‘attached’ used in the passage.
(d) Which word in the passage denotes a dishonest person?

Answer:
(a) Lencho licked and affixed the stamp to the envelope with a blow of his fist.
(b) The postmaster immediately opened the letter to know Lencho’s feeling for the money he had received.
(c) The word is ‘affixed’.
(d) The word is ‘crook’.

Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
Who was Lencho? What were his main problems?       [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
Lencho was a hardworking farmer, who lived on the crest of a low hill. Due to the hailstorm his crops were destroyed, so he needed money to sow his field again and support his family. These were the main problems of Lencho.

Question 2.
Give a brief description of the view from Lencho’s house?
Answer:
Lencho’s house was situated on the crest of a low hill and it was the only one in the valley. One could easily see the river and the field of ripe corn from here.

Question 3.
What did Lencho compare the raindrops to and why?          [ CBSE 2011]
Answer:
Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins because the crop needed the rain badly and it was the sign of good harvest. Good harvest meant prosperity for Lencho as he needed the money to fulfil his basic needs.

Question 4.
Why did Lencho write a letter to God?
Answer:
When.Lencho’s crops were completely destroyed by the hailstorm, he wrote a letter to God because he was the only hope in his despair. Lencho asked him to send hundred pesos to sow his field again and support his family.

Question 5.
Why and how did the postmaster help Lencho?
Answer:
The postmaster was determined to help Lencho. He did not want Lencho’s faith in God to be shaken so he asked his employees and friends to help Lencho. He also contributed a part of his salary for this act of charity.

Question 6.
How much money did Lencho need? How . much did he get?
Answer:
Lencho got seventy pesos. He was angry at the difference as he needed hundred pesos to sow the crops again and to support his family till the next harvest.

Question 7.
Why did Lencho not want the money to be sent through mail? CBSE 2016
Answer:
Lencho wrote in his second letter that he received only seventy pesos but he needed a hundred pesos.
He requested God not to send rest of the money by post since the post office employees were a bunch of crooks and would steal the money.

Question 8.
Do you think that Lencho was right to call the post office employees a bunch of crooks? Why or why not?
Answer:
Lencho called the post office employees a bunch of crooks as he did not get full money that he had demanded. He could not believe that God had sent him any less money so he doubted these people. But he was not right to call them a bunch of crooks.

Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each]

Question 1.
Who was Lencho and what circumstances forced him to write a letter to God?
Answer:
Lencho was a hardworking farmer who lived with his family on a crest of a low hill. He was very caring and God loving man. Though, he was a farmer he could read and write. Lencho eagerly waited for the rainfall in order to get good harvest and he became happy when it came. But the pleasing rain changed into hailstorm and destroyed his crop.
He became sad and was worried about his family as they might remain hungry that year. His last hope was the help from God as he had complete faith in him. Hence, he wrote a letter to God asking him to send hundred pesos to survive and to reharvest.

Question 2.
Give a character-sketch of Lencho.
Answer:
Lencho was a simple man and a hardworking farmer. He worked as an ox in his field.
Lencho’s entire crops were badly destroyed by the hailstorm. So, he became very sad as he was worried about his family. He was an optimistic person. Although his only source of living was taken away, he didn’t lose hope. He had his last hope in God. He was confident that God would help him in his distress. Lencho was an innocent atheist who didn’t know that there was no such living person as God who could send him money. He had blind faith in God and sought solution of his problem’Trom God only.

Question 3.
Sketch the character of the postmaster in the story ‘A Letter to God”.
(or)
How do you like ,the character of the postmaster in the story ‘A Letter to God?” Give reason for your answer.
Answer:
The postmaster was a fat and friendly fellow. He was a sensible human being. He first laughed looking at the letter which had a strange address. But soon he became serious. He was surprised at the faith that Lencho had in God. He wanted his faith not to be shaken.
The postmaster himself gave a part of his salary and also requested his employees and a few friends to contribute for charity. He felt happy and satisfied when Lencho received the money. This shows that he was a kind and empathetic person as well. He loved to help others.

Question 4.
How did the postmaster and post office employees help Lencho? How did he react to their help?
Answer:
The Postmaster and post office employees were very generous as they contributed for the act of charity. First they laughed when they saw Lencho’s letter to God, but soon they were impressed by his faith in God. They decided to send some money to Lencho so that his faith in God does not get shaken. They collected seventy pesos and sent it to Lencho.
When Lencho got the envelope and opened it to count money, he became angry. He again wrote a letter to God demanding the remaining thirty pesos. He thought that post office employees had taken away the remaining money and called them a bunch of crooks, which was not justified at all as they were the people who had helped him. But it shows his innocence and firm faith in God.

Question 5.
How did the hailstones affect Lencho’s field? What was Lencho’s only hope?
Answer:
Lencho, a hardworking farmer, worked like an ox for a good harvest, depended completely on his fields to  take care of his family. He expected a good harvest that year. He needed a downpour for the crops to ripe, but the rain followed by hailstorm completely destroyed the crops.
It made him sad. He was worried for his family as he loved them so much. But Lencho had firm faith in God and believed that nobody died of hunger. So, he decided to seek help from God. He wrote a letter to God and asked him for a hundred pesos to survive and to sow new crop.

Question 6.
“Humanity still exists”, this is what we get to know after reading A letter to God’ in which firm faith in God of a poor farmer and helpfulness of the post office employees are aptly depicted thought. Write a paragraph on the values in it, in about 80-100 words. Give the paragraph a suitable title. [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Existence of Humanity
After reading ‘A letter to God’, our faith in humanity stirs for strong. We learn from the story that there still are people who help others without any self interest. The postmaster and the post office employees lay an example for everyone of us to be kind. Though they all laughed at his letter, they were really moved by the grip of faith Lencho had in God. The way they all decided to help the stranger in his hard times restores our faith in the existence of humanity and motivates us to be a noble and kind person.

Question 7.
Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Do you have faith in God like Lencho? Was Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees right?              [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
Lencho was a poor farmer who totally depended on the harvest to survive and fulfil basic needs of his family. Once his crops were destroyed due to heavy rainfall and hailstones and he was afraid to think how his family would survive. He believed that God would help him in this plight. He had firm faith in God, he believed that God would not let him be hungry.
Now-a-days faith in God like Lencho is almost impossible and unseen. People are very much aware that nobody is willing to help others without any self interest. Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees was not right or justified but it was just because of his innocence as he could not believe that God had done such a mistake. It were only the post office employees who had stolen money according to him.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

The Lost Child Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers

The Lost Child Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers

In a nutshell, “The Lost Child Extra Questions and Answers Class 9” is a poignant story that revolves around a young boy who gets separated from his parents in a bustling fair. As he navigates through the crowd in search of them, he is drawn towards various attractions, each tempting him with their allure. This heartwarming yet heart-wrenching tale explores themes of innocence, longing, and the choices one faces in life. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

Online Education for The Lost Child Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

The Lost Child Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair?
Answer:
He sees people gaily dressed, some on horses, some in bamboo or bullock carts. He also sees toys, dragon ‘flies, insects, worms, flowers, and doves on his way to the fair.

Question 2.
Why does the child lag behind?
Answer:
He lags behind because he is attracted by several of the things he sees on the way like toys, sweetmeats, dragonflies, flower garlands, the snake charmer and the roundabout.

Question 3.
What are the things that he wants at the fair?
Answer:
At first he wanted a burfi, then a garland of gulmohur flowers, next some colourful balloons, after that he was attracted by the snake charmer and finally he wanted a ride on the roundabout.

Question 4.
Why does the child move on without waiting for his parents’ answer whenever he asked for things that attracted him?
Answer:
He moves on without waiting for an answer because he knew they would not pay attention to his demands or give him what he asked for.

Question 5.
When does the child realize that he had lost his way?
Answer:
At the roundabout, when he turned to request his parents to allow him to sit on the ride, he did not get any reply. When he looked around for them he realized he had strayed away from his parents and lost his way.

Question 6.
How has the lost child’s anxiety and insecurity been described?
Answer:
His anxiety and insecurity have been described through his reaction to his realisation that he was lost. Tears rolled down his cheeks, his throat became dry, his face flushed and convulsed with fear and he ran in all directions in panic without knowing where to go.

Question 7.
Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Answer:
He lost all interest in the things that he had wanted earlier because he felt fearful and insecure at being separated from his parents and all he wanted was to be reunited with them.

Question 8.
What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
Answer:
This question can be answered in either way. In my opinion the child is reunited with his parents who are also searching for him and find him crying in a stranger’s lap.
OR
No, the child is not reunited with his parents but is taken by the man who finds him and is brought up by him.

Question 9.
Why was the fair being held in the village?
Answer:
It was being held to celebrate the spring season.

Question 10.
What tells us that the little boy was excited about going to the fair?
Answer:
The fact that the little boy has been described as “brimming over with life and laughter” tells us that he was happy and excited to be going to the fair.

Question 11.
Compare the reactions of the father and mother at the child’s request for a toy.
Answer:
The father glared at him angrily ‘in his familiar tyrant’s way’ while the mother looked at him tenderly and diverted his attention from the toys.

Question 12.
What made the mother caution the child?
Answer:
The fact that the child had wandered off into the mustard field trying to catch a butterfly made the mother call out to him to come back on to the footpath.

Question 13.
What was the boy engrossed in when his parents sat in the shade of a grove, near a well?
Answer:
The boy was engrossed in watching little insects and worms that were teeming out along the footpath.

Question 14.
What diverted the child’s attention from the shower of flower petals in the grove?
Answer:
The cooing of doves diverted the child’s attention from the raining flower petals.

Question 15.
How did the boy react on nearing the village where the fair was being held? Why?
Answer:
He felt both attracted and repelled at the sight of the large number of people who had converged at the village to enjoy the fair.

Question 16.
Why did the child not ask his parents to buy him the burfi?
Answer:
The child knew that his parents would not listen to his request and would call him greedy for wanting

Question 17.
Why did the child move away from the flower seller without asking his parents for a garland?
Answer:
He was aware that his parents would refuse to buy him a garland and say that they were cheap.

Question 18.
Why did the child not ask his parents to buy him balloons even though he was fascinated by them?
Answer:
He knew his parents would say that he was too old to play with the balloons so he did not ask his parents to buy them for him.

Question 19.
What made the child move on from the snake charmer?
Answer:
The child had been forbidden by his parents from listening to the music being played by the-snake charmer,which they had termed as coarse, so he moved away from the snake-charmer.

Question 20.
Where did the child finally decide to ask his parents to let him enjoy the delights at the fair? Why?
Answer:
At the roundabout the sight of the machine in full swing with men and women shrieking, crying and laughing out aloud in excitement, encouraged the child to ask his parents to be permitted to ride the roundabout.

Question 21.
Where and how did the child meet his saviour?
Answer:
The child met his saviour near the entrance of a temple where he was almost at the point of being trampled under the feet of the jostling crowd.

Question 22.
How did the man try to quieten the crying lost child?
Answer:
He first took him to the roundabout, then to the snake-charmer, next the balloon seller, after that to the flower-seller and finally to the sweetmeat seller, hoping to quieten the crying lost child.

Question 23.
How was the boy’s reaction to the attractions of the fair different after getting separated from his parents?
Answer:
He lost all interest in the attractions of the fair and kept crying for his parents.

Question 24.
Do you think the title of the story is appropriate?
Answer:
Yes, the title appropriately captures the essence of the story. It highlights the plight of a little child who is lost in a fair and it captures the emotions that the child goes through on being separated from his parents. It shows how the child who a moment ago is excited at the sights and sounds of the fair suddenly loses interest in all these sights once he realises that he is lost.

The Lost Child Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe in detail all the attractions that the child is drawn to till he gets lost in the fair.
Answer:
Right till the time he loses his parents, the child is attracted to it. several things that he sees on his way. At first it is the toys being sold at the wayside shops. Then he is attracted to the dragonflies in the mustard field. Next he is drawn to the worms and insects on the footpath and the shower of flower petals and the cooing of the pigeons. On reaching the fair he is first tempted by the goodies being sold by the sweetmeat seller and then by the colourful balloons of the balloon-seller. Next he is drawn by the sound of the snake charmer and finally he is mesmerized by the roundabout with children and adults enjoying the rides.

Question 2.
Do you consider the child’s behaviour as depicted in the story normal? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, the child’s behaviour was normal. The story very clearly depicts the behaviour of a young child who is attracted by everything he sees around him. The child is not only attracted to toys and sweets but also fascinated by the natural wonders of the world like dragonflies, pigeons, flowers and snakes.

This is a reflection of the universal phenomenon of a child’s attraction and fascination with the natural world. As mentioned in the story the child is both ‘repelled and fascinated’ by the colourful world around him which is normal for any young child. The crowds and noise repel a child while the colourful world and the sights of the fair fascinate him.

Question 3.
The story describes certain attractions which may not be so attractive to a modern child. Can you pick up some of them from the story – ‘The Lost Child’.
Answer:
A modem city child has very little interaction with nature on a daily basis, unlike the lost child. They have very little possibility of being allowed to run wild in a yellow mustard field or being interested in doing so. Technology has taken away a lot of their time and hence he or she does not have the time to run after dragonflies or butterflies or simply rejoice under the rain of flower petals from a gulmohur tree.

With their exposure to amusement parks and water parks with mechanised rides and an artificially created ambience, they would probably not even feel comfortable in natural surroundings. However if the child is allowed free rein to interact with nature he/she would probably find the natural affinity that a human being has for nature and behave in the same manner as the lost child in the story.

Question 4.
Describe the character of the child as depicted in the story.
Answer:
The child is very young, innocent and full of joy and energy. He finds everything around him exciting and fascinating, whether a dragonfly or toy displayed in a toy shop. Like any child he is easily distracted and his desires and interests keep on changing from sweetmeats to balloons to rides. He is not used to large crowds and is ‘repelled and fascinated’ by them.

His whole world revolves around his parents and he is deeply affected at his separation from them. He is obedient and disciplined and does not throw a tantrum to get his object of desire. He fears his father and approaches his mother whenever he is tempted by any of the objects he sees during his journey to the fair and at the fair itself.

Question 5.
How does the child in the story lose himself? How far is he responsible for his predicament?
Answer:
The child is wholly responsible for his predicament because at every stage we find him wandering off after one attraction or the other inspite of repeated instructions from his mother not to do so. Initially we find him staring down in front of the wayside toy shops. Next he wanders off into the mustard fields, chasing dragonflies. Then he slows down to admire the insects and worms that line the footpath.

After that he gets distracted by the rain of flower petals and the cooing of the doves and has to be pulled back to the main road by his mother. On entering the fair he again slows down in front of the sweetmeat seller, the flower seller, the snake charmer and the roundabout before realising that he is completely on his own.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Class 9, we’ll take you on a poetic expedition, unravelling the nuances of Yeats’ verses and the profound emotions they evoke. Each stanza will be explored, seeking to grasp the poet’s dreams and aspirations, and the deeper meaning behind his yearning for a rustic, contemplative existence. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe the Lake Isle of Innisfree as seen through the eyes of the poet.
Answer:
The Lake Isle of Innisfree is an island that is incredibly peaceful. The island is also a place of great natural beauty. Yeats describes many different aspects of its appeal, from the various birds and insects to the striking light at different times of day. This is a landscape that has not been damaged or diminished by human interference.

Question 2.
Why does the poet want to go to Innisfree?
Answer:
The poet wants to go Innisfree in search of peace. He does not like London with its noise and grey pavements. He wants to live in a place which is the opposite of London; he craves for some peace and hence he wants to go to Innisfree where he will be self-sufficient. He will build a small cabin and grow beans and make his own honey by keeping honeybees. Instead of city noise, he will hear the buzzing of the bees and the sound of lake water lapping against the shore.

Question 3.
How is the city life different from the life at the Lake of Innisfree?
Answer:
City life according to the poet is routine and wearisome. The city is noisy, the pavements are dull and grey; there is chaos all around. But at Innisfree, he can escape the noise of the city and be lulled by the “lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore.” On this small island, he can return to nature by growing beans and having bee hives, by enjoying the “purple glow” of noon, the sounds of birds’ wings, and, of course, the bees. He can even build a cabin and stay on the island.

Question 4.
What kind of life does the poet William Butler Yeats imagine in his poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”?
Answer:
Yeats imagines Innisfree as an idyllic place of peace and solitude. He imagines living in a “small cabin” of “clay and wattles” where he will support himself on beans he plants and honey from his beehive, and he will “live alone in the bee-loud glade.” There is also a sense that the “peace” he will find there is connected to its natural beauty.

Question 5.
Write three things that the poet would like to do when he goes back to Innisfree.
Answer:
Innisfree is a perfect island that provides everything desired by the poet. The poet will build a small cabin of clay and fence. He will have nine rows of beans. He will also have a hive for the honeybees.

Question 6.
How will the poet live on the island of Innisfree ?
Answer:
The poet will go to Innisfree and live in the lap of nature in quiet solitude. He will build a small cabin there. He shall have nine rows of beans and a hive of bees. He will survive on the beans and the honey cultivated by himself.

Question 7.
Why does the speaker in the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” desire to spend his time alone in his cabin?
Answer:
The speaker longs for a quiet place where he can live in peace and in harmony with nature. He envisions a simple life in a cottage surrounded by a garden instead of the dull “pavement” of the city. In his mind, he hears the gentle “lapping” of the water against its shore, the bee loud glade instead of the noise of city traffic. And he will be self-sufficient, growing his own food.

Question 8.
‘And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow.” Where will the poet have some peace ? How?
Answer:
The poet indicates that peace of mind can be slowly acquired in the lap of Nature. From the morning, when the mist is like a veil thrown over the lake, to the noon when the purple heather blazes finder the sun and the evening is Ml of the sound of the linnet’s wings and finally, at night, the glow of stars lighting up the sky, the poet will have peace.

Question 9.
How does the poet describe the lake’s waves?
Answer:
The poet says that the lake’s waves hit its shore and create a low sound. The sound, different from the sounds of the city, gives him great pleasure. He hears it in his heart and enjoys it. It also gives him solace and comfort as he realises he can visualise the island in his heart in the city.

Question 10.
How is the ‘roadway in London’ different from the Lake Isle of Innisfree?
Answer:
The roadway in London is dull and grey. But there is nature’s beauty all round in the isle of Innisfree. The poet finds himself surrounded by the beauty of nature and its sounds. He hears the sweet sound of the lake water lapping against the shore.

Question 11.
What does the poet hear in his ‘heart’s core’ even when he is far away from Innisfree?
Answer:
The poet is far away from the island of Innisfree in London. However, he hears not the sound of city traffic, but the lake water lapping against the shore with low sounds in his heart’s core.

Question 12.
What words does the poet use to describe how calmness and tranquillity will come to him at Innsifree?
Answer:
The poet declares that he will get up and go to Innisfree, where he will build a small cabin “of clay and wattles made.” There, he will have nine bean-rows and a beehive and live alone in the glade loud with the sound of bees. He says that he will have peace there, for peace drops from “the veils of morning to where the cricket sings.”

Question 13.
How does the poet describe midnight, noon and evening?
Answer:
According to the poet, Innisfree is a magical place. In the morning, the mist is like veils thrown over the lake. At noon, the purple heather blazes under the sun, and the sky glows with a purple glow. In the evening, the environment is filled with the chirping of crickets and the fluttering of the linnet’s wings. In the night, the bright stars cause the sky to shimmer.

Question 14.
Innisfree is a simple, natural place, full of beauty and peace. How does the poet contrast it with where he now stands?
Answer:
The poet contrasts the clay and wattle made cabin, bee-loud glade, morning with dews and cricket songs, midnight with its sky filled with glimmering stars, noon with purple glow that is almost magical, evenings filled with the sound of the flapping of linnet’s wings, and lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore as compared to the sombre monotony of the “grey” London pavements and the sound of traffic.

Question 15.
Where is the speaker when he hears lake water lapping?
Answer:
The speaker says he is standing “on the roadway, or on the pavements grey”. Yeats was walking down the Strand in London, when a fountain in a shop reminded him of lake water lapping against the shore at Innisfree.

Question 16.
In “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” what does the poet feel while standing on the pavement?
Answer:
The speaker in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” is clearly in an urban environment, London, as he thinks about Innisfree. He stands “on the roadway, or on the pavements grey”. He says he will have peace in Innisfree, implying he is not at peace here in the city. His tone expresses his regret that he is so far from where his heart tells him he should be.

Question 17.
What does Innisfree symbolize for the poet? Does the poet actually miss the place of his boyhood days?
Answer:
Innisfree represents poet’s state of mind. The poet wishes to escape to Innisfree as it is more peaceM than where he is now-the city. Innisfree is representative of what the poet considers an ideal place to live, which is devoid of the restless humdrum of his life. Yes, the poet actually misses the place of his boyhood days. Even when he is away from Innisfree, he recalls the sound of the lake water washing the shore.

Question 18.
What is the tone of the poem?
Answer:
The poem has a very calm and relaxed tone. The speaker starts on a dreamy, with note, but as he pictures the place in his mind, it helps him to make up his mind. His desire to escape becomes stronger and he determinedly repeats his desire to escape. Finally, the poet has a relaxed tone as the speaker realises that even though he lives in an urban area, he will hear the sounds of tranquil nature resonate in the deepest part of his being.

Question 19.
What sound is the poet looking forward to hear in Innisfree?
Answer:
The speaker wants to be surrounded by the sounds of nature. The glade or the clearing he lives in will be filled with the sound of bees buzzing and the fluttering of birds’ wings, as also, the peaceful sounds of the cricket.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Briefly describe the major theme of the poem ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree”, Nature vs City life.
Answer:
A major theme in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”, is nature versus the somber monotony of city life. Civilization, as represented by London, is monotonous and wearisome. On the other hand, Innisfree is magical with its He is not at peace, because peace is there only at Innisfree. Further, his use of “pavements gray” tells us that the urban environment in which he finds himself is exactly the opposite of the natural world he desires to return to.

On the other hand, Innisfree, which represents Nature, is magical in its appearance. The sounds one hears are the buzzing of bees, the flapping of the linnets’ wings, the singing of crickets and the lapping of the lake water aginst the shores. The sky is magical too. The dew drops from the sky in the morning light, the noon sky glows purple and the stars shimmer at midnight.

Question 2.
How does Yeats create the atmosphere of the island and its sights and sounds in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”? Refer closely to the use of language in the first two stanzas.
Answer:
The speaker begins by declaring that he will rise and go to Innisfree, a small island in the middle of Lough Gill, located in County Slogh. There the speaker will construct a cabin of mud and intertwined twigs or branches. He will lead a life of peace and quiet solitude, keeping busy with his garden of beans and a beehive.

The speaker reiterates that he will find calm in the dripping morning dew and singing crickets in the morning light, and this calm will continue throughout the day, when the sky glows purple in the noon and he hears the beating or finches’ wings in the evening, and finally, when the sky shimmers in the light of the stars at midnight.

Question 3.
In W.B. Yeats’s poem, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” what indications does the speaker give of his present environment?
Answer:
The first line of the poem makes it clear that the speaker is not at Innisfree. In this line, he expresses his wish to go there. Given his peaceful, idealistic description of Innisfree as a magical place that he would want to escape to, we might surmise that his current environment is quite different. If he longs so badly to escape to such a place, perhaps his current environment is bland, boring, oppressive.

He will have peace at Innisfree in the lap of Nature, implying he does not have peace where he is at present. He also brings out the sombre, monotony of the “grey” London pavements and the sound of traffic, by contrasting them with the sounds of bees, birds and crickets and the colours of the sky.

Question 4.
Explain the contrast between the last four lines of “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” and the rest of the poem.
Answer:
In the opening lines of the poem, the poet’s tone is dreamy and hopeful as the poet declares his intention of going to Innisfree. This is mainly achieved by the use of the future tense and the speaker’s desire to “arise and go now” to Innisfree. The speaker is sure he will live happily, will build his own home and grow and harvest his own food.

Innisfree takes on a magical character in the second stanza. The buzzing of the bees has, quietened and has been replaced by the gentler noise of crickets, the air is filled with birds in flight, and night and day have reversed their roles: “midnight’s all a glimmer and noon a purple glow.” It is also a place where peace is slow in coming but arrives nonetheless.

The reader is, however, aware that the speaker is not where he wishes to be, yet. The longing becomes more intense in the final stanza when the speaker says he hears the call to go to Innisfree “always night and day” and is even more determined to go to Innisfree. There is a sharp tone shift in the final two lines created by use of present tense “I stand” and “I hear”.

The soothing tone and mood is abruptly cut off and replaced by cold reality and the imagery of the street – to “roadway” and “pavements grey”. The speaker would rather not be where he is in that moment and his tone is sombre. But this mood does not last, as the speaker shifts to the present tense showing that though he stands on the “grey” pavement, he can access Innisfree in his own heart at any time.

Question 5.
Why does the poet want to go Innisfree?
Answer:
The speaker is standing on the pavement in London. He is surrounded by the sombre monotony of “grey” roadway and pavement and the sound of traffic. In that moment, perhaps fed up of the hubbub of the city life, the speaker decides to go to Innisfree. There, the speaker will construct a cabin of mud and intertwined twigs. In a life of quiet solitude, the speaker will keep busy with his garden of beans and a beehive. The speaker reiterates that he will find calm in the easy pace of dripping dew and singing crickets in the morning light, and this calm will continue throughout the day, the purple glow of the afternoon, and the beating of finches’ wings in the evening and shimmering of stars in the sky at midnight.

Question 6.
In the poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree’, what does the poet find so attractive about ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’.
Answer:
The thing that the poet finds so attractive about Lake Isle of Innisfree is its promise of peace. The poet, who stays in London, longs for this place, in the lap of Nature, which affords a sense of contentment and relaxation far from the busy modem life. He remembers the beauty of Innisfree and the simple life he can lead there in quiet solitude. He will build a cabin and live on beans and honey which he will cultivate himself. He dreams of living in a delightful environment listening to the buzzing of bees, the songbirds and crickets at dusk and lake water lapping against the shores. He wishes to escape to a beautiful place with wonderful light and colour.

Question 7.
Does the poet wish to escape reality in The Lake Isle of Innisfree?
Answer:
The Isle of Innisfree is a place of escape for the speaker, who is unhappy living in the city. The thing that the poet finds so attractive about Lake Isle of Innisfree is its promise of peace. The speaker describes Innisfree as a simple, natural environment where he will build a cabin and live alone in the lap of nature.

He talks of the island as an inherently restorative place where human beings can go to escape the chaos and cheerless monotony of city life. The poet, then, longs for this place which affords a sense of contentment and relaxation far from the busy modem life. The poem’s slow and regular meter helps to convey this languid, dreamy effect.

There is also the vivid impressionistic description of the colours and beauties of this place, and the soothing stir of nature which is so different from the strident noise of the city where the poet actually is, as the final stanza makes clear. The poet, who is physically trapped in the city, imagines the beauty of Innisfree and this gives him spiritual sustenance in an increasingly fast-paced, modem world.

However, the speaker is only dreaming of “getting away from it all. Even if he never goes, he will at least escape to this Garden of Eden in his mind. He can imagine the escape as he can will himself to hear the lake water lapping even while he stands on the pavement in the city.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; 
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

(a) Who does T refer to in the stanza?
Answer:
I is the speaker/ the poet William Butler Yeats

(b) Where is he at the present moment?
Answer:
He is walking down a road in London.

(c) Where does he want to go?
Answer:
He wants to go to the lake island of Innisfree, a place where he had spent a lot of time as a boy.

(d) What does he wish to do there?
Answer:
He wishes to build a small hut of clay and wattles. He will sow nine rows of beans and keep a hive for the honeybee.

Question 2.
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

(a) Name the poetic device used in the first line.
Answer:
Allusion: The poet’s declaration ‘’I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree” echoes the words of the prodigal son in the Bible when he says, ‘’I will arise and go to my father.”

(b) What does the word ‘there’ in the above lines refer to?
Answer:
‘There’ in the above lines refer to Lake Isle of Innisfree.

(c) Why does the poet wish to do go to Innisfree?
Answer:
The poet wishes to live in the lap of Nature, away from the hubbub of the city.

(d) What does the stanza suggest about the poet?
Answer:
The poet loves to live in the lap of nature.

Question 3.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow.
And evenings full of the linnet’s wings.

(a) What is the poet going there to find?
Answer:
The poet hopes to find peace in Innisfree.

(b) Explain: What do you think “for peace comes dropping slow/ Dropping from the veils of the morning”?
Answer:
The given lines indicate that peace of mind can be slowly acquired from the natural surroundings. It is peace that comes slowly, falling like morning mist from the sky and slowly fades away until it is night.

(c) How has noon been described in the stanza?
Answer:
Noon has been described as a purple glow. Here, a purple glow in the sky gives noon a magical quality. The poet could also be referring to the sight of purple flowers of heather in the afternoon

(d) What is a ‘Linnet’?
Answer:
A mainly brown and grey finch with a reddish breast and forehead.

Question 4.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow.
And evenings full of the linnet’s wings.

(a) Where is the poet at the moment?
Answer:
He is standing on a pavement in London, imagining he is at Innisfree.

(b) What did the poet see in the morning?
Answer:
The poet saw dewdrops which seemed to be dropping from the skies and which brought peace.

(c) What did the poet hear?
Answer:
The poet heard the singing of the crickets and the flapping of the linnet’s wings.

(d) How does peace come in the morning?
Answer:
The peace comes dropping in the form of dewdrops in the morning when the sun rises from behind the curtains of mist. It gives immense pleasure to the poet.

Question 5.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

(a) What is the poet’s tone as he repeats “I will arise and go now”?
Answer:
The poet is determined to go back to Innisfree.

(b) What does the poet hear?
Answer:
The hears the lake water lapping with low sounds against the shore.

(c) What do you learn about the poet in this stanza?
Answer:
The poet loves nature and is determined to return to live with nature.

(d) How does the poet contrast London and Innisfree?
Answer:
The poet contrasts the colours of nature with the grey of the London streets.

Question 6.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

(a) Explain the line “lake water lapping with low sounds”.
Answer:
The poet hears the quiet sound of lake’s waves as they gently break on the shore.

(b) Bring out the internal rhyme used in the above lines.
Answer:
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey

(c) Why does the poet want to go to Lake Isle of Innisfree?
Answer:
The poet is unhappy with the life in the city. He wants to lead a peaceful life in the lap of nature. He wants to go to Innisfree because it is natural place full of beauty.

(d) Why is the poet looking for peace in Innisfree?
Answer:
The poet is living in London at the moment. He does not find peace in the city.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Class 9

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

In a nutshell, “A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Class 9” is a thought-provoking poem that delves into the themes of loss, mortality, and the impermanence of life. The poem’s protagonist narrates a haunting experience of love and loss, leaving readers with lingering questions about the nature of existence. With concise lines and evocative imagery, Wordsworth manages to touch the depths of human emotions, making this poem a timeless masterpiece in English literature. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What does the poet mean by ‘spirit’ and in what state was it?
Answer:
In the poem the word ‘spirit’ refers to the mind of the poet. He was in a slumber. That is, a deep sleep or a state of unawareness as if unconscious to the realities of life. It is as if he was drugged or under some spell.

Question 2.
What caused the slumber of the poet?
Answer:
The poet was passionately in love with the girl. Her death shocked and saddened him. He felt bitter grief. His deep emotion overwhelmed his mind. Such was the intensity of his sorrow that it overpowered his consciousness.

Question 3.
What changes did the slumber bring in the poet’s feelings?
Answer:
The poet was shocked and saddened by his beloved’s death. But the slumber brought peace to his mind. He realised that his beloved had become part of Nature and would always remain around him.

Question 4.
Who does not feel any human fears? Why?
Answer:
The poet does not feel any fears and his soul feels at peace, as though asleep and existing in a deep calm where he has nothing to fear. His love for Lucy was so strong that he did not want her to grow old and suffer the problems of old age as human beings do. She would not now be marked by the passing of time or the ravages of nature as other mortals are. For him, she has attained the status of a supernatural being.

Question 5.
Explain the line: “The touch of earthly years”. Who would not feel the touch of earthly years?
Answer:
The expression “The touch of earthly years,” refers to the ravages of old age faced by human beings – the depletion of energy, diseases, senility and death which a person has to suffer as one grows old during life on this earth. The poet’s beloved Lucy will not face the problems of old age as she is no more alive.

Question 6.
How does the poet come out of his ‘slumber’?
Answer:
The poet comes out of ‘slumber’ as the realisation dawns of him that with her death Lucy is no longer a human being and as vulnerable to death as others. She has become an immortal being and he sees her as a supernatural goddess. This brings him out of his unconsciousness or ‘slumber’.

Question 7.
How does the poet react to his loved one’s death?
Answer:
At first the poet is shocked by the death of his beloved and he feels bitter grief. But after some realisation, he feels a great peace. He is content that the passing of time will no longer affect her. She has become part of Nature and is free from human travails.

Question 8.
The poet does not refer to the death of Lucy. How does he reveal that she is no more?
Answer:
The poet does not refer to Lucy as being dead directly. However, he makes it obvious that she is no longer alive by stating that she has become completely still, motionless, inactive and inert. Moreover, she has lost her senses of hearing and seeing.

Question 9.
How does the poet imagine “her” to be after death?
Answer:
The poet imagines her to be at peace after death. She is in a deep sleep, no longer affected by worldly affairs or by the passage of time. She is now part of nature. ‘No motion has she now, no force She neither hears nor sees,’

Question 10.
What does the poet mean by “earth’s diurnal course”? How has “she” become a part of earth’s diurnal course?
Answer:
The phrase “earth’s diurnal course” refers to the daily rotation of the earth on its axis that causes day and night. According to the poet Lucy has become an inseparable part of the earth after her death. As she has mingled with the earth, she naturally participates in its daily course just like the stones, the rocks, and the trees.

Question 11.
What is the relation of Lucy with rocks, stones, and trees?
Answer:
Lucy, after her death, has part of Nature as she has mingled with the soil. As such she is a part of the other things on the earth like rocks, stones or trees. She has now become a part of Nature.

Question 12.
What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer:
The poem deals with the loss of a loved one through death and the sorrow that follows. The death of Lucy left the poet in great pain. However, Wordsworth conveys the idea that death may separate our loved ones from us but they always remain around us in the form of nature. Wordsworth immortalizes Lucy by stating that she lives on in Nature after her physical death. Therefore, the death of a loved one should not leave us grief-stricken.

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Give a brief summary of the poem ‘A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal’ in your own words.
Answer:
In the poem A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal the poet says that grief over the death of his beloved has left him numb and that human fears no longer affect him. But he realises the reality of life after her death and through this realisation he has now attained peace. He is content as the passing of time will no longer affect her. She is in her grave, covered with soil and has thus become the part of Nature and of the earth. She is rolling with the earth as it turns from day to night and vice versa.

Question 2.
How did Lucy’s death affect the poet? What does it reveal about his attitude towards her?
Answer:
The poet remarks that he had become unaware of the realities of life when he was under the spell of Lucy’s love. He felt as if he was under some spell and this seemed to have clouded his sense of reasoning. He felt Lucy was not subject to the consequences of time and the aging process. He did not realise she would one day be conquered by death. For him, she had attained the status of a supernatural being – a goddess or a deity beyond worldly suffering.

Such was the poet’s intensity of love for the girl that he was blind to the hard fact of life that everybody who is born has to ultimately die. Death, however, leaves her unable to perform any physical activity. As he comes to terms of her death, the poet feels that in her death his beloved Lucy has become a part of Nature. She is now under the surface of the earth and revolving along with it on its path. He tells us that like other stones, rocks and trees she also revolves with the earth now.

Question 3.
How does the poet reveal that Lucy is dead without using the words ‘death’ or ‘dead’? What according to him, has happened to Lucy after her death?
Answer:
Though the poet does not use the words ‘death’ or ‘dead’ for Lucy, yet he is able to convey very clearly that Lucy is no longer alive. He writes that Lucy has lost all force and strength; she has become absolutely inert and motionless. Her body has lost all activity. The young girl is also deprived of her senses like that of hearing or seeing. He says that her body has integrated itself with the earth. She has become as inseparable from the earth as stones, rocks, or trees. Like them, she rolls with the earth as it rotates on its axis. The idea that she still exists as a part of the earth soothes the mind of the poet who does not shed tears or cry over her death.

A Slumber did my Spirit Seal Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
A slumber did my spirit seal
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.

(a) What was the poet’s state of mind when Lucy was alive?
Answer:
When Lucy was alive the poet was in a state of spiritual peace as he did not even think about her aging or dying.

(b) What was the ‘human fear’ he did not have?
Answer:
It blinded him to the reality that eventually all things that are born perish or die one day.

(c) Why did he not have this fear?
Answer:
The poet could not imagine that she was a human being and subject to suffering and death.

(d) How does the poet imagine her to be, after death?
Answer:
The poet imagines her to now be a part of nature.

Question 2.
A slumber did my spirit seal-
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.

(a) Who does ‘she’ refer to?
Answer:
The poet does not disclose in the poem the identity of the girl. But because the poem is one of the Lucy Poems, she refers to Lucy, the girl Wordsworth loved.

(b) What could she not feel?
Answer:
She could not feel the touch of earthly years.

(c) Explain “the touch of earthly years”.
Answer:
By “the touch of earthly years”, the poet means the ravages of time or the process of aging.

(d) Why does the poet say that his loved one is rolling round in the way of the earth?
Answer:
The poet says that his beloved is a part of Nature she is also moving round with the earth.

Question 3.
No motion has she now, no force –
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.

(a) What happened to the poet’s beloved?
Answer:
The poet’s beloved was dead.

(b) Where is she now?
Answer:
After her death she has become one with Nature.

(c) How does she become an inseparable part of nature?
Answer:
She has become an integral part of nature as she is buried and has become one with the earth.

(d) Explain: she is in “earth’s diurnal course with rocks and stones and trees”?
Answer:
She is now a participant in the daily routine of the earth and rolls with it along with the rocks and trees and other things of Nature.

Question 4.
No motion has she now, no force –
She neither hears nor sees,
Rolled round in earth’s diurnal course
With rocks and stones and trees.

(a) What does the word ‘slumber’ refer to?
Answer:
The word ‘slumber’ refers to a deep sleep. Here it refers to death.

(b) How will time not affect the poet’s beloved?
Answer:
The poet’s beloved is dead and therefore has become immortal.

(c) ‘No motion has she now, no force.’ Why is ‘she’ motionless?
Answer:
‘She’ is the poet’s beloved who is no longer alive. Therefore she is motionless.

(d) What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer:
The poet wants to convey the idea that though death separates our loved ones from us but they always remain around us in the form of nature.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English First Flight

In this article, we are providing The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers PDF Class 10 English First Flight CBSE, Extra Questions for Class 10 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

The Proposal Extra Questions and Answers Class 10 English First Flight

Extract Rased Questions [3 Marks each]

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow
Question 1.
What are you talking about? Oxen Meadows are ours, not yours!
(a) Who is the speaker here?
(b) Who is being referred to by ‘yours’?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘a piece of grassland’.
(d) Who is being referred to as ours?

Answer:
(a) Natalya is the speaker here.
(b) Lomov is being referred by ‘yours’.
(c) ‘Meadows’ from the extract means ‘a piece of grassland’.
(d) Ours is referred Natalya and his father.

Question 2.
Hear me out, I implore you! The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I have already had the honour of explaining to you, used to bake bricks for my aunt’s grandmother. Now my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them a peasant…
(a) Who is the speaker here?
(b) What did the peasants do?
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘to ask something in a very serious way’
(d) What is synonym of ‘high respect in the extract’?
Answer:
(a) Lomov is the speaker here.
(b) The peasants used to bake bricks for Lomov’s Aunt’s grandmother.
(c) ‘Implore’ from the extract means ‘to ask something in a very serious way’.
(d) The word is ‘honour’.

Question 3.
You may take it that I know whether I have the right or not. Because, young man, I’m not used to being spoken to in that tone of voice, and so on. I, young man, am twice your age, and ask you to speak to me without agitating yourself, and all that.
(a) Who is the speaker here?
(b) How did the speaker wanted Lomov to talk to him?
(c) Find the word from the extract which means ‘to disturb, excite or anger someone’.
Answer:
(a) Chubukov is the speaker here.
(b) Chubukov wanted Lomov to speak to him without agitating himself.
(c) ‘agitating’-from the extract means ‘to disturb, excite or anger someone’.

Question 4.
Never mind about my people! The Lomovs have all been honourable people, and not one has ever been tried for embezzlement, like your grandfather!
(a) Whom does the speaker say the above lines to?
(b) How did Lomov describes his people?
(c) Find the word from the extract which means ‘theft of funds’.
(d) Explain ‘Never mind about my People’.
Answer:
(a) Lomov (The speaker) said the above lines to Chubukov.
(b) Lomov described his people as honourable.
(c) ‘Embezzlement’ from the extract means ‘theft of funds’.
(d) Lomov said this line because his family members.

Question 5.
NATALYA : What proposal?
CHUBUKOV : Why, he came here to propose to you.
NATALYA : To propose? To me? Why didn’t you tell me so before?
CHUBUKOV : So he dresses up in evening clothes. The stuffed sausage!
The wizen-faced frump!   [CBSE 2014]
(a) Who is being referred to as ‘he’?
(b) Why did he meet Chubukov?
(c) Find the word from the extract which means ‘Make an offer of marriage to someone’.
(d) Who was dressed in as a stuffed sausage?
Answer:
(a) Lomov is being referred to as ‘he’ in the extract.
(b) Lomov met Chubukov’s to ask for Natalya’s hand.
(c) ‘Propose’ from the extract means ‘make an offer of marriage to someone’.
(d) Lomov was dressed as a stuffed sausage.

Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]

Question 1.
Which qualities are common in all three characters of the play ‘The Proposal’?
Answer:
All the characters in the play are argumentative, full of pride and possessiveness. They are always ready to argue for petty things.

Question 2.
How does Lomov come to Chubukov’s house? What for does he come? How is he received?[ CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Lomov came to Chubukov’s house in the evening dress with gloves on. He cames to propose to his daughter Natalya. He is received with all the respect by Chubukov.

Question 3.
How does Chubukov react when Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter?
Answer:
When Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter, Chubukov gets off balanced with joy. He embraces and kisses Lomov, sheds a tear of joy and calls for God’s blessing for Lomov and Natalya.

Question 4.
Why did Lomov want to get married?
Answer:
Lomov wanted to gel. married as he was already 35 years old. Moreover, he was suffering due to a weak heart and sleep- sickness and wanted company of someone to look after him.

Question 5.
What happens to Lomov when he is in an excited state?
Answer:
When Lomov is in an excited state his heart beat increases, lips tremble and there is a twitch in his right eyebrow. When he goes to sleep in such a state something pulls him from his left side and he jumps like a lunatic

Question 6.
How does Natalya excite Lomov to the point of verbal fighting?
Answer:
Natalya repeatedly insisted that Oxen Meadows are theirs and told Lomov that upto now she considered Lomov as a good neighbour and friend. This excited Lomov to the point of verbal fighting.

Question 7.
How does Lomov react when Chubukov says that he is not used to misbehaviour by a young man like Lomov?
Answer:
Lomov reacts by saying that Chubukov thinks that he is a fool. He says that he cannot talk to him calmly and politely as he is making a false claim to his property. He further accuses Chubukov of being a grabber.

Question 8.
Why does Natalya ask her father Chubukov to fetch Lomov in at once? Why does she accuse her father?
Answer:
Natalya asked her father to fetch Lomov at once as she
had come to know that Lomov had come to propose her. She accused Chubukov of driving Lomov out of their home.

Question 9.
How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose? CBSE2014
Answer:
When Natalya cames to know that Lomov had come there to propose her she was shocked. She wails, changes her stance and asks her father to fetch Lomov.

Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each]

Question 1.
The principle ‘forgive and forget’, helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our neighbors. Do you think Anton Chekov conveys this message in the play ‘The Proposal’ ?
Answer:
Anton Chekov does convey the message that the principle of ‘forgive and forget’ helps a lot in -maintaining cordial relationship with one’s neighbours. Initially, the neighbours in the play, Lomov, Natalya and Chubukov were fighting over petty issues. They were putting important issues behind them and wasting their time by arguing over small things. These arguments slowly developed into fights and they started hurling abuses at one another. This damaged their relationship with each other.
It was when Natalya came to know that Lomov had come to propose her that she left the topic of argument (Oxen Meadows) behind. She also asked for forgiveness from Lomov and requested him to come to the point. Hence it is mandatory to ‘forgive and forget’ if one wants to have cordial relationship with others.

Question 2.
The characters Natalya and Lomov lose their temper on trivial issues. It shows their poor skills at anger management. Suggest some ways that help you in maintaining cordial relationship with people around you.
Answer:
The way in which Lomov and Natalya lost their temper shows that how anger can easily effect a relationship. Thus, it becomes very important to have good anger management skills. Following are a few anger management skills that can be followed in one’s life. These would also help in building healthy relationships.

  1. Always follow the principle of ‘forgive and forget.’
  2. Try to understand the person to whom you are talking.
  3. Be helpful rather than being self-centric.
  4. Always have empathy towards others.
  5. irst listen and then speak.
  6. Be as courteous as possible to everyone.
  7. Don’t have the habit of always complaining about others.

Question 3.
Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good relationships can be maintained? Why in today’s time we see so many people going away from each other?
Answer:
The play ‘The Proposal’ teaches us how anger and
arguments can easily ruin a relationship. Thus to maintain a good relationship, it is important to have a control over your anger. Having arguments over unimportant or small issues is extremely harmful and a waste of time. If someone commits a mistake, one should be ready to forgive and forget rather than being angry and arguing with the person endlessly. In today’s time people try to find only the positives in others and do not easily accept their negatives. Hence is becoming extremely difficult to maintain a good and cordial relationship with others.

Question 4.
It is a common observance that more attention is paid to unimportant issues at the cost of important ones. The play ‘The Proposal’ beautifully portrays this fact. Suggest some steps how we can avoid this unhealthy practice.
Answer:
It is true to an extent that people usually give more importance to the unimportant issues forgetting their priorities. Just like how Lomov came to propose Natalya but due to their argument that matter was left unaddressed. Thus, it becomes very important to set your priorities in life. One must ignore the unimportant issues. It is a waste of time to have discussions over them. One ’ should not pay too much attention on the trivialities. This energy can be saved on spending it over some useful and important issues that gives a fruitful result.

Question 5.
Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have. Describe the first fight between them.    [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
Lomov and Natalya meet and rather than proposing her he gets off the point. He tells her how he inherited his land and how he respects her father. He also tells Natalya that his Oxen meadows touch Natalya’s Birchwood. On hearing this, Natalya says that Oxen Meadows are theirs. They start arguing about it. Lomov clarifies that he is talking about the Oxen Meadows that are between her Birchwoods and Burnt marsh. Natalya again insists that they are theirs.
Lomov refuses it. He tells her that his aunt’s grandmother gave those meadows to her father’s grand father. The peasants used the land for forty years and started regarding it as their own. Natalya’s father comes and also starts quarreling with Lomov. They get into a heated argument and resort to name-calling. After some time, Lomov leaves their house.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

The Last Leaf Extra Questions and Answers Class 9

Online Education for The Last Leaf Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

Without further ado, let’s immerse ourselves in the heartwarming world of “The Last Leaf Extra Questions and Answers Class 9” and explore the profound life lessons it imparts. As we witness the transformation of characters and the impact of selfless acts, we invite you to join us on this insightful expedition. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

Online Education for The Last Leaf Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

The Last Leaf Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Where did Sue and Johnsy stay? What was their profession?
Answer:
They lived in a small flat on the fourth storey of an old house. They were both artists.

Question 2.
Why was Sue worried when Johnsy fell ill?
Answer:
Sue was worried because Johnsy would lie on her bed without moving, and would just gaze out of her window all day. Even though the doctor came every day, there was no change in her condition.

Question 3.
What illness did Johnsy have? Who looked after her?
Answer:
Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. Her friend Sue looked after her.

Question 4.
What worried the doctor?
Answer:
The doctor was worried because there was no improvement in Johnsy’s condition. He felt that Johnsy was not responding to treatment because she had made up her mind not to do so. He felt she had lost her will to live and hence the medicines were not going to be useful to her.

Question 5.
How did Sue try to revive Johnsy’s interest in life?
Answer:
Sue talked to her about clothes and fashions. Then she brought her drawing board into Johnsy’s room and started painting. She also whistled while painting, hoping to distracting Johnsy’s mind from her illness.

Question 6.
Why was Johnsy counting the leaves on the creeper outside her window?
Answer:
Johnsy had made up her mind that the day the last leaf fell off the creeper, she would die. So she was counting the leaves as they fell off the creeper.

Question 7.
Why did Sue go to Behrman?
Answer:
Sue went to Behrman because she had to paint an old miner and she wanted him as the model for the painting.

Question 8.
Who was Behrman?
Answer:
Behrman was a sixty year old painter whose only ambition was to paint a masterpiece. He lived in the same building as Sue and Johnsy, and sometimes acted as a model for their paintings.

Question 9.
What did Sue confide in Behrman?
Answer:
She told him about her worries about Johnsy, who refused to recover from her illness because of her belief that she was going to die the day the last leaf fell off the creeper outside her window.

Question 10.
What did Sue feel when she saw the last leaf on the creeper? Who was at the window with her?
Answer:
Sue felt extremely worried that the lead would fall off by the next morning, and if Johnsy saw that, she would not survive. Behrman, an old painter and her neighbour, was at the window with her.

Question 11.
Why was Sue nervous to draw back the window curtains?
Answer:
She was worried that the last leaf on the creeper might have fallen off in the wind and snow the previous night, and that her friend Johnsy would consider it as a warning that she was also going to die soon.

Question 12.
How did the sight of the last leaf affect Johnsy?
Answer:
The sight of the last leaf clinging on to the creeper inspite of the wind and snow revived Johnsy and gave her the faith that she would survive. She realised how much she had troubled Sue by her gloom and depression, and also thought of the fact that it was a sin to want to die. ‘

Question 13.
How did the doctor react to Johnsy’s recovery? What news did he give Sue?
Answer:
He declared that as Johnsy’s will to live had been revived, she would recover soon. He informed Sue that their neighbour Behrman had fallen ill with pneumonia and that he did not expect him to survive.

Question 14.
How did Behrman die?
Answer:
He died of pneumonia. He had been out in the stormy night, painting a leaf on the creeper outside Johnsy’s window. He came home soaked in the rain and fell ill there. The janitor found him there in the morning.

Question 15.
What did the presence of the paints and brushes near Behrman’s bed signify?
Answer:
They signified that he had been out painting in the middle of the snowy, windy night.

Question 16.
Why had Behrman felt the need to paint the leaf on the creeper?
Answer:
Johnsy, his neighbour who had been suffering from pneumonia, had developed a strong belief that she would die the day the last leaf of the creeper outside her window fell. Behrman felt that he had to paint the leaf that night in order to save her life, as all the leaves had fallen off in the storm.

Question 17.
What impression do you get of Behrman?
Answer:
Behrman appears to be a selfless, caring man, who was fond of his neighbours, and put their welfare before his own. He is a great painter, because the leaf he paints is so realistic that no one can distinguish it from a real one.

Question 18.
What was Behrman’s masterpiece? Why was it called so?
Answer:
The leaf that he painted on the creeper was his masterpiece, because it was realistic that Johnsy did not realise that it had been painted. As a result, she recovered from her illness. Even though it was not a famous painting, it was one that saved a life, and thus, it was a masterpiece.

Question 19.
Do you think Johnsy was a good friend? Give reasons for your answer?
Answer:
Either Yes or No is acceptable, as long as it is supported by sufficient arguments No, I don’t think she was a good friend, because she did not respond to the love and care showered on her by Sue. She did not respond to the doctor’s treatment just because she had decided in her head that she would die the day the last leaf on the creeper fell, and she ignored any attempts by her friend to help her. Yes, she was a good friend, as she did finally realise and appreciate all that Sue had done for her. She apologised and made an effort to recover, thereby showing that she cared about Sue’s friendship.

Question 20.
What was Johnsy’s illness? What ultimately cured her: medicine, or her will to live?
Answer:
Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. She was not responding to medicines, because she had no will to live. When she finally made up her mind to get better, she recovered from her illness.

Question 21.
Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy had is common among teenagers? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, feelings of depression can be common among teenagers. They are usually sheltered and protected from the ups and downs of life by their parents as children, and often find it difficult to deal with obstacles and challenges as they grow up.

Question 22.
Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?
Answer:
Behrman had a dream of painting a masterpiece. It did come true when he painted the leaf on the wall on which the creeper was growing. The painting was so realistic that it helped revive Johnsy who had been waiting for the last leaf on the creeper to fall.

Question 23.
What was Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Answer:
His masterpiece was the leaf that he painted on the wall next to the creeper. Sue called it his masterpiece because it was so realistic that no one realised that it had been painted.

Question 24.
How long had Behrman been ill? Why did he die so quickly?
Answer:
Behrman had been ill for two days. He died very quickly, because he had gone out in the storm and remained . in his wet clothes even after he returned to his flat. He was about sixty years old, and caught a chill very quickly. Further, he was found to be ill by the janitor, as he lived alone, which also suggests that he did not really have anyone to take care of him.

Question 25.
Johnsy calls herself ‘wicked’. Do you agree with her?
Answer:
Johnsy can be called wicked, because she not only lost her will to live, she also ignored all the attempts by her friend Sue to help her. Even though Sue was going to great efforts to take care of her, Johnsy did not respond. In fact, it was because of her stubborn nature that Behrman ultimately lost his life.

The Last Leaf Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Do you think Behrman was a great artist or a great human being? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
In my opinion, Behrman was a great human being. No doubt he was a talented artist, which is evident from his painting of the leaf on the wall. The painting was so realistic that everyone thought it was a real leaf, which saved Johnsy’s life. Johnsy had made up her mind that she would die of her illness the day the last leaf fell off the creeper.

However, Behrman decided to help Sue, her friend, who was worried about the effect the falling of the last leaf would have on Johnsy. This shows how caring, selfless and concerned he was. He went out in the stormy and cold night to paint the leaf, and came back soaked to the skin, in no condition to even remove his wet clothes and shoes. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life to save the life of another human being.

Question 2.
Compare and contrast the characters of Sue and Johnsy?
Answer:
Sue and Johnsy were both artists and good friends. They shared a small flat in an old building. Sue was a very loyal and caring friend. She did everything she could to take care of Johnsy when she fell ill with pneumonia. She not only took care of Johnsy physically, but also helped by earning money by selling her paintings. She cooked and ensured that Johnsy received the best treatment.

Johnsy on the other hand appears to have been a depressed and gloomy person, who is very self-absorbed. She did not have the will to fight against her illness, and did not respond to the doctor or to Sue’s care and concern. She was highly imaginative and superstitious, as she came to believe that her life was linked to the number of leaves on the creeper outside her window. She believed that she would die the day the last leaf of the creeper fell.

It was because of this stubborn belief that Behrman, an older artist, lost his life when he went out in the storm to paint a leaf onto the creeper so that Johnsy would not realise that the last leaf had actually fallen.

Question 3.
This story shows the power of the mind. Discuss.
Answer:
Yes, the story reveals the power of one’s thoughts and the mind in making us believe in something. In this story, we see that one of the characters, Johnsy, is suffering from pneumonia. She believes that she will not survive, and as a result even medicines have no effect on her. Even her doctor was worried about her chances of recovery. Later, we see the power of the mind once again when she recovers.

At this point, her belief was that she would only live as long as the last leaf stayed on the creeper. When she sees that the leaf does not fall off despite the wind and stormy conditions, it makes her believe that even she might be able to survive. Even though it is not a real leaf, and was just painted by Behrman, Johnsy draws inspiration from it, and slowly gains the will to live. Therefore, the story clearly expresses the power of the mind in changing the course of our lives.

Question 4.
Why has the story been called ‘The Last Leaf? Do you think it is appropriate? Give reasons for your answer?
Answer:
As the title suggests, the story revolves around the importance of a single leaf on a tree. The leaf is particularly important in saving the life of a girl, who had convinced herself that she would die the moment the last leaf fell off the tree. However, the leaf miraculously stays on the tree, giving the girl hope to survive. The title also refers to the fact that the leaf is the last artwork made by an out of work painter, which also becomes his masterpiece.

Question 5.
What is the theme and message of the story?
Answer:
The story explores the idea of the impact of true art, and what makes a painting a true masterpiece. It also highlights the themes of selflessness and the supreme sacrifice of self to save the life of another human being. It also explores the loyalties of a true friendship, and the levels to which we can go to help a friend. The story shares a message of the power of love and friendship. It reminds us that selflessness is the highest virtue one can attain.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

Reach for the Top Class 9 Extra Questions with Answers

Reach for the Top Class 9 Extra Questions with Answers

Do you aspire to conquer new heights and achieve greatness in every endeavor you pursue? “Reach for the Top” is not just a mere phrase but a mantra that inspires us to push our boundaries and strive for excellence. In this article, we’ll explane the Reach for the Top Class 9 Extra Questions with Answers. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

Reach for the Top Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What made Santosh Yadav achieve fame and greatness?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav is the only woman in the world who has scaled Mt Everest twice. Santosh Yadav scaled Mt Everest when she was barely twenty years of age, becoming the youngest woman in the world to achieve the feat. Within twelve months, Santosh scaled the Everest a second time as a member of an Indo-Nepalese Women’s Expedition. She thus set a record as the only woman to have scaled the Everest twice.

Question 2.
Why was the ‘holy man’, who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings, surprised?
Answer:
The holy man expected that like all other families in the villages, the family would also wish for the birth of a son. However, when he was told by Santosh’s grandmother that they wanted to have a daughter, he was surprised.

Question 3.
What kind of society was Santosh born in?
Answer:
Santosh was born in Joniyawas, a small village in the Rewari District in Haryana. The society in this region was very conservative and orthodox. People were rigidly patriarchal and gender-biased. The birth of a girl was generally unwelcome and people strictly adhered to conservative traditions.

Question 4.
The grandmother wished her daughter-in-law give birth to a daughter. What light does this throw on her character?
Answer:
Despite being the member of a conservative family, the grandmother wished to be blessed with a granddaughter. This was because there were already five boys in the family. Hence, the family now wished for a daughter. This also shows her as a woman of progressive views.

Question 5.
What do you know about Santosh’s family?
Answer:
Santosh was born into an affluent family of landlords in a village, Joniyawas, in the Rewari district of Haryana. She was the sixth child in a conservative family, the only sister to five brothers. Though financially well-off, her family was orthodox and conservative in matters related to the education and upbringing of girls.

Question 6.
Why was Santosh sent to the local school?
Answer:
Santosh’s parents were affluent and could afford to send Santosh to a school in Delhi. But they sent her to the local village school because they strictly followed tradition and it was customary in their society to send girls to the local school only.

Question 7.
How was Santosh different from the other girls of her village?
Answer:
Unlike other girls of her village, Santosh was not content with the traditional way of life. She used to wear shorts and went on to study further at Delhi. She did not get married at sixteen as most of the girls of her village did.

Question 8.
Why was Santosh Yadav not content with a traditional way of life? What path did she choose and why?
Answer:
Right from childhood, Santosh was not content with a traditional way of life and felt that if she chose a correct and a rational path, the others around her had to change, not she. She wanted to chart her own course in life, rather than following the age-old customs and traditions. She wore shorts instead of traditional attire, went to study in Delhi when girls in her village got married. When her parents refused to pay for her education, she got them to agree by informing them of her plans to earn money by working part time to pay. her school fees. She chose the path of excellence through education, rational thinking and hard work and achieved unparalleled success as a woman mountaineer.

Question 9.
When did Santosh leave home for Delhi, and why?
Answer:
Santosh left home for Delhi when she turned sixteen because her parents had begun to pressurize her to get married in keeping with the traditional practice in their community. She decided that it was the right moment to rebel and she quietly got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi to continue her studies.

Question 10.
Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought to light by this incident?
Answer:
At the age of sixteen, Santosh got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. When her parents refused to pay for her schooling in Delhi, she politely informed them that she planned to work part time in order to pay her fees. Her parents realized that their daughter was independent, had a strong will-power and firm self-belief. She could take her decisions and also stand by them. They saw her strong sense of conviction and her passion for education. So, they agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi.

Question 11.
In what ways did Santosh show her dissatisfaction with the traditional life in the family?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav always opposed traditional ways. She wore shorts rather than wearing traditional dresses. She refused to give up her studies and get married at the age of sixteen. Though her parents put great pressure on her, she left her home and came to Delhi for high school, informing her parents she would earn her own money by working part-time if they refused to pay her fees.

Question 12.
How did Santosh develop a liking for mountain climbing?
Answer:
From the window of her room in the Kasturba Hostel, Jaipur, Santosh used to watch the villagers going up the hills and then suddenly vanishing after a while. It inspired her to explore the hills. One day when she decided to check it out herself, she met a group of mountaineers. The mountaineers allowed her to join them and encouraged her to take up climbing. Thus, she developed liking for climbing.

Question 13.
Why did Santosh decide to take up mountaineering?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav began to climb mountains when she met some mountaineers in the Aravalli Hills, who not only let her join them but also motivated her to take up mountaineering.

Question 14.
What did Santosh do after being motivated by the mountaineers to take to climbing?
Answer:
Santosh saved money and enrolled herself in a course at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and after completion of her semester in the college, headed straight for the Institute to be able to reach for her training in time.

Question 15.
Why did Santosh write a letter of apology to her father?
Answer:
Santosh had got herself enrolled in the Uttarkashi Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without seeking her father’s permission. She had thought of talking to her family about this during her holidays. But because her college term was extended by a few days, there was hardly any time between the end of the semester and her reporting date at the Institute. Due to her inability to go home, she wrote a letter of apology to her father.

Question 16.
What is the secret of Santosh’s success as a mountaineer?
Answer:
Santosh had a strong will power, great physical endurance and an amazing mental toughness. The single- minded determination and dedication helped her overcome all hurdles to emerge as a winner. She possessed a remarkable resistance to cold and high altitude. Her climbing skills and hard working nature made it easy for her.

Question 17.
When did Santosh get an opportunity to scale Mt. Everest?
Answer:
Santosh got an opportunity to scale Mt. Everest in 1992, just four years after she had met the mountaineers climbing the Aravalli Hills. She was hardly twenty years of age at that time when she became the youngest woman in the world to scale the highest peak.

Question 18.
How did Santosh’s seniors and fellow climbers appreciate her?
Answer:
Santosh’s her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength impressed her seniors, while her concern for others and desire to work together with them found her a special place in the hearts of fellow climbers.

Question 19.
What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
Answer:
During the 1992 Everest expedition, one of her team-mates lay dying at the South Col. Santosh made all efforts to look after him. Unfortunately, the climber could not be saved. However, she did succeed in saving the life of another fellow-climber, Mohan Singh. Santosh shared her oxygen with him and saved his life. These incidents show her concern for her team mates.

Question 20.
When did Santosh scale the Mt. Everest for a second time?
Answer:
Santosh was invited by an Indo-Nepalese Women’s expedition to scale Mt. Everest within a year of her first expedition in 1992. Santosh joined them to climb the Everest for the second time. Thus, she scaled the Everest twice setting a record as the only woman to have scaled the Everest two times.

Question 21.
Why is Santosh Yadav’s name recorded twice for climbing Mount Everest?
Answer:
When she scaled the Mount Everest for the first time in 1992, Santosh Yadav, at the age of twenty, earned the credit for being the youngest woman in the world to climb the peak. She then scaled the Everest a second time just a year later, thus setting a record as the only woman to have scaled the Everest twice.

Question 22.
How did the government of India honour Santosh Yadav?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav, by the age of twenty-two had climbed Mt Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world twice, the only woman in the world to have done so. In recognition of her achievements, the Indian government bestowed upon her one of the nation’s top honours, the Padmashri.

Question 23.
What shows Santosh’s concern for the environment?
Answer:
As a fervent environmentalist, Santosh showed her concern for the environment by collecting and bringing down as much as 500kg of refuse that littered the mountains.

Question 24.
How did Santosh feel when she found herself on the ‘top of the world’ at the summit of the Everest?
Answer:
While standing on the “top of the world,” Santosh Yadav was overwhelmed with emotions of patriotism and bliss. She felt proud as an Indian when she unfurled the tricolour on Mount Everest. She was so happy that she experienced a kind of spiritual bliss. She found it hard to articulate her feelings and termed them as “indescribable”.

Question 25.
How did Santosh Yadav get into the record books?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav got into the record books for the first time when she scaled Mt. Everest at the age of twenty. She became the youngest woman in the world to climb Mt. Everest. She scaled the Everest for the second time next year, thus becoming the only woman in the world to do so.

Question 26.
How did Santosh Yadav set records both the times when scaled Mount Everest?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav set records both the times when scaled Mount Everest. When she scaled the peak for the first time she was the youngest woman to scale the Everest and when she climbed it the second time she was the only woman to scale it twice.

Question 27.
Describe Santosh’s fight against the system?
Answer:
Santosh came from a family that was conservative and orthodox. The society was patriarchal and the birth of a daughter, though not considered a curse, was not generally welcome. Girls were educated at the local school, and married off at the age of sixteen. Right from the beginning Santosh had to fight the system to assert for her right to equality and education. She never lost her spirit and determination. She defied all the customs and traditions which limit the girls within the spheres of family, marriage and children. She ventured into a man’s domain to become a role model for others.

Reach for the Top Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Briefly write what you learn about Santosh Yadav’s parents.
Answer:
Santosh Yadav’s parents were affluent but conservative people. Her father was a wealthy landlord from Joniyawas village of Rewari District in Haryana. Though they lived according to the prevailing customs in the village, their love for their daughter made them often give in to her wishes. They yielded to their daughter’s demands because they loved her dearly, and knew that she was sensible enough to have chosen a correct and a rational path. Thus, Santosh got full support from her parents, which in the long run helped her reach to the top.

Question 2.
Write a brief note on Santosh’s journey from her local village school to the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi.
Answer:
Born in an affluent but traditional and conservative landowners’ family in a small village of Rewari district in Haryana, Santosh was a rebel from early childhood. The local village school, but when her parents insisted she get married at the age of sixteen, she refused as she wanted to get a proper education first.

She got admission in Delhi school, despite her parents’ reluctance to send her there and informed them politely that she would earn by working part time. Santosh persuaded her parents to send her to Jaipur for higher studies after finishing high school. She got admission in Maharani College, Jaipur. She got a room in Kasturba Hostel which faced the Aravalli hills. She used to see the villagers going up the hill and disappearing.

This aroused her curiosity about the mountains. One day, when Santosh went near the hills, she met some climbers. They encouraged her to take to climbing. This whetted her interest in climbing and she saved money and took admission in Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi.

Question 3.
“If I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me”, said Santosh Yadav. How does her life justify her words?
Answer:
Born to conservative parents, Santosh did not want to let the norms of the patriarchal, gender-biased and rigidly conventional society dictate her life. Though her name means contentment, Santosh was not always content with her place in a traditional way of life and wanted to live life on her own terms. In fact, she believed that if she chose a correct and a rational path, others would have to change and align themselves to her choices, not her.

She wore shorts instead of traditional dresses as a child. Santosh resisted the pressure to get married at the young age of sixteen, declaring that she would not marry at all if denied proper education. Defying tradition, she got enrolled in a school in Delhi.

When her parents refused to pay for her schooling, she informed them that she would work part-time to manage her school fees. Seeing their daughter’s determination, her parents had to give in. Taking up mountaineering as her career was also an independent decision. However, she tried her best not to hurt her parents and wrote a letter of apology to her father for not having sought his permission before joining the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi. Thus, despite all odds, Santosh chose for herself a path which was absolutely unthinkable and unheard of for girls in an orthodox society.

Question 4.
Santosh “decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment arrived”. Elaborate.
Answer:
Santosh was a very rational and progressive girl, who wished to shape her life herself. She says, “From the very beginning I was quite determined that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me.” Though it was not easy for a girl who came from a rigid patriarchal and traditional environment, she decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment arrived. And the right moment came when she turned sixteen. At sixteen, most of the girls in her village used to get married.

Santosh, too, was under pressure from her parents to do the same. Instead of giving in, she opposed her parents’ decision to marry her off at the early age of sixteen and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. When her parents refused to pay for her education in the city, she told them politely that she would earn money for her fees by working part-time. She politely but firmly made it clear that she was determined to overcome all obstacles.

Finally, her parents had to surrender. Her decision to take up mountaineering as a career was also handled very boldly by her. She took admission in Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without seeking the permission of her parents leaving them with no choice but to accept her decision. Thus, Santosh rebelled against the orthodox, conservative system in a quiet but firm way.

Question 5.
Santosh had all the qualities of a good mountaineer. Comment.
Answer:
Mountaineering is a challenging career which demands great physical and mental strength. It requires boldness, fearlessness, sturdiness and faith in one’s abilities. Equipped with an iron will, physical endurance and an amazing mental toughness, Santosh Yadav was, in fact, made for mountaineering. Just within a span of four years of her training in mountain climbing, Santosh successfully scaled Mt. Everest” setting a record for being the youngest woman to climb Mt Everest.

She repeated this feat in less than a year’s time again and became the only woman in the world to have scaled the Everest twice. All this was made possible with her climbing skills, physical fitness and mental strength. Her resistance to cold and altitude proved to be added advantages. All these qualities, coupled with her team-spirit and her concern for her fellow climbers made her not only a good mountaineer but also a very popular one among her superiors and her fellow climbers.

Question 6.
Santosh is not only a good mountaineer but also a genuinely good human being. Discuss.
Answer:
Santosh Yadav proved her mountaineering skills quite early in her career. She displayed an unflinching will and a fearless mind that fought a rigid, orthodox society to rise to the top. But the iron will and mental toughness did not overshadow her qualities of co-operation and concern for others. That Santosh is endowed with a caring heart is obvious from the fact that she took great care of a climber who lay dying at the South Col. Though, the climber could not be saved, Santosh’s concern for him was really commendable.

In another incident, she saved the life of a fellow climber, Mohan Singh, by sharing her own oxygen with him. This sense of sacrifice and team-spirit won for her the esteem of her team-mates. Moreover, Santosh’s heart overflowed with patriotism when she unfurled the national flag on the top of Mt. Everest. Her concern for the purity of the environment also proves that she is a good human being. Such is her love for nature that she brought down five hundred kilograms of rubbish from the Everest. Thus, Santosh is blessed with the human qualities of both head and heart.

Reach for the Top Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
The only woman in the world who has scaled Mt Everest twice was born in a society where the birth of a son was regarded as a blessing, and a daughter, though not considered a curse, was not generally welcome. When her mother was expecting Santosh, a travelling ‘holy man ’, giving her his blessing, assumed that she wanted a son. But, to everyone’s surprise, the unborn child’s grandmother, who was standing close by, told him that they did not want a son.

(a) Name the only woman in the world who has climbed Mt Everest twice.
Answer:
The only woman to climb Mt Everest twice is Santosh Yadav.

(b) What blessing did the holy man give her mother when she was expecting Santosh?
Answer:
The holy man blessed her mother that she give birth to a son.

(c) Why was the holy man, who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings, surprised?
Answer:
The holy man was surprised when the grandmother requested blessing for a girl.

(d) What does this show about her grandmother?
Answer:
Santosh’s grandmother was a progressive person who did not believe in conservative views.

Question 2.
The girl was given the name ‘Santosh ’, which means contentment. But Santosh was not always content with her place in a traditional way of life. She began living life on her own terms from the start.

(a) What was the girl named? How was she different from her name?
Answer:
The girl was named Santosh, which means contentment. She was not content with a traditional way of life.

(b) What kind of society was Santosh born in?
Answer:
Santosh was born in a society where the birth of a son was regarded as a blessing, and that of a daughter was not generally welcome.

(c) How did she began living her life from the beginning?
Answer:
Santosh lived her life on her own terms from the beginning.

(d) Give an instance of her unconventional behaviour from her childhood?
Answer:
While other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.

Question 3.
“From the very beginning I was quite determined that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me. ”

(a) Who speaks these words?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav, the mountaineer from Haryana, speaks these words.

(b) What kind of choices did the speaker make?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav always chose the correct and rational path.

(c) How was the speaker able to change those around her?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav was able to change those around her by making them yield to her firm decision through logic and rational argument.

(d) What light do these words throw on the speaker?
Answer:
These words show that right from her childhood, Santosh did not wish to follow conventions and tradition blindly, but had a logical and rational approach.

Question 4.
Santosh’s parents were affluent landowners who could afford to send their children to the best schools, even to the country’s capital, New Delhi, which was quite close by. But, in line with the prevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school.

(a) What was Santosh’s family background?
Answer:
Santosh belonged to a wealthy landowning family of Haryana.

(b) Where did Santosh’s parents send their daughter to study? Why?
Answer:
Santosh’s parents sent their daughter to the local village school to study as it was customary to do so.

(c) What light does this throw on Santosh’s family?
Answer:
Santosh’s family members were conservative in their thought.

(d) At what age did Santosh begin to fight the prevailing customs?
Answer:
Santosh began to fight the system at the age of sixteen.

Question 5.
So, she decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment arrived. And the right moment came when she turned sixteen.

(a) Who is ‘she’ in this extract and which system did she decide to fight?
Answer:
‘She’ in the extract refers to Santosh Yadav, the famous mountaineer. She decided to fight the system of conservative traditions which blocked the progress of a person, especially a girl.

(b) How and why did she decide to fight the system?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav decided to fight the system in her quiet but firm way because she did not want to insult those who supported the traditions nor did she want to give in to the system.

(c) What was ‘the right moment’?
Answer:
The right moment was when she turned sixteen and was under pressure from her parents to get married like other girls of her village.

(d) What did’ she’ do at this moment?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav did not wish to get married at such a young age, so she threatened her parents that she would never marry if she was denied proper education.

Question 6.
A marriage as early as that was the last thing on her mind. She threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

(a) What is meant by “a marriage as early as that”?
Answer:
In Santosh’s village girls were married off at the age of sixteen.

(b) What did her parents want Santosh to do?
Answer:
Santosh’s parents wanted her to get married at the age of sixteen.

(c) What did Santosh do the escape parental pressure?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

(d) What light does this throw on Santosh’s character?
Answer:
Santosh was a person with a progressive way of thought and strong determination.

Question 7.
When her parents refused to pay for her education, she politely informed them of her plans to earn money by working part time to pay her school fees.

(a) Where did Santosh go for her education?
Answer:
Santosh decided to go to Delhi for her education.

(b) Why did her parents refuse to pay for her education?
Answer:
Her parents refused to pay for her education because Santosh did not follow the family tradition of getting married early and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi against their wishes.

(c) What does this tell you about her parents?
Answer:
They were conservative and traditional in their thought and tried to pressurise their daughter into following the same path.

(d) How did she react to her parents’ decision?
Answer:
Santosh refused to give up her studies and told her parents that she would manage to pay her school expenses by working part time.

Question 8.
“I used to watch villagers from my room, going up the hill and suddenly vanishing after a while. One day I decided to check it out myself. I found nobody except a few mountaineers. I asked if I could join them. To my pleasant surprise, they answered in the affirmative and motivated me to take to climbing. ”

(a) From where did the speaker see people going up the hill?
Answer:
The speaker saw people going up the hill from her room in Kasturba Hostel, Jaipur.

(b) Where did she see the villagers going?
Answer:
She saw the villagers going up the hill.

(c) What did she decide to do one day?
Answer:
One day she decided check out climbing the hill for herself.

(d) How did this prove a turning point in her life?
Answer:
This climb up the hill with some mountaineers motivated her to take to mountaineering.

Question 9.
Then there was no looking back for this determined young girl. She saved money and enrolled in a course at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.

(a) What does the word ‘then’ imply?
Answer:
The word ‘then’ implies the point of time from when she took the decision to take up mountaineering.

(b) Why did she enrol herself at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering?
Answer:
She enrolled herself at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering to train for mountaineering.

(c) How did she pay for the course?
Answer:
She saved money and paid for the course.

(d) What light does this throw on Santosh’s character?
Answer:
This shows her strong determination and strength of purpose in her desire to pursue her goals.

Question 10.
I had to write a letter of apology to my father without whose permission I had got myself enrolled at Uttarkashi.

(a) Why did Santosh have to write a letter of apology to her father?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled for a mountaineering course without seeking his permission. Moreover, she did not have time to visit her parents as her course started immediately after her semester exams.

(b) Where had she enrolled herself and why?
Answer:
She had enrolled herself at the Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in order to get proper training to pursue her interest in mountain climbing.

(c) Why didn’t Santosh seek her father’s permission before getting enrolled in the Institute?
Answer:
Santosh knew that her father would not allow her to pursue a career in mountaineering, so she decided to let her parents know about it after joining the institute.

(d) What light does this extract reflect on the speaker’s character?
Answer:
The extract shows that Santosh was adamant and determined to live life according to her choices. She did not mean to insult her parents in any way but at the same time did not wish to let go of her dreams and ambition.

Question 11.
Thereafter, Santosh went on an expedition every year. Her climbing skills matured rapidly. Also, she developed a remarkable resistance to cold and the altitude. Equipped with an iron will, physical endurance and an amazing mental toughness, she proved herself repeatedly.

(a) On what expedition did Santosh go every year?
Answer:
Santosh went on a mountaineering expedition every year.

(b) What skills did Santosh develop during her time at the Institute?
Answer:
At the Institute Santosh’s climbing skills matured rapidly. Also, she developed a remarkable resistance to cold and the altitude.

(c) What inherent skills did Santosh helped that helped her achieve success in mountaineering?
Answer:
Santosh possessed an iron will, an immense capacity for physical endurance and an amazing mental toughness that helped her achieve success in mountaineering.

(d) At what age did she climb Mt Everest for the first time?
Answer:
Santosh climbed Mt Everest in 1992, at barely twenty years of age, becoming the youngest woman in the world to do so.

Question 12.
If her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength impressed her seniors, her concern for others and desire to work together with them found her a special place in the hearts of fellow climbers.

(a) Why were her seniors impressed with Santosh?
Answer:
Santosh’s seniors were impressed with her because of her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength.

(b) What endeared her to her fellow climbers?
Answer:
Her team-spirit and her concern for her fellow climbers endeared her to them.

(c) Give an example of Santosh’s concern for others.
Answer:
Santosh Yadav tried her best to save the lives of two fellow climbers. She succeeded in saving the life of one, Mohan Singh, by sharing her oxygen with him.

(d) What great honour was given to Santosh by the Indian government in recognition of her achievements?
Answer:
In recognition of her achievements the Indian government bestowed upon her one of the nation’s top honours, the Padmashri.

Maria Sharapova

Reach for the Top Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Briefly describe Maria Sharapova.
Answer:
Maria Sharapova, the famous woman tennis player, won the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 2004 and attained the world number one position in women’s tennis in 2005. Though Russian by birth, she got tennis training in United States of America. She loves singing, dancing, reading novels and is very hardworking and dedicated.

Question 2.
How is Maria’s personality a mix of contrasts?
Answer:
The maturity, balanced mind and inner strength of Maria does not appear to be in accordance with her glamorous dress or her charming manner and ready smile. There seems to be some mismatch between her sophisticated outer appearance and her balanced inner-self.

Question 3.
Maria possesses some contradictory characteristics. What are they?
Answer:
Maria appears to be highly fashionable as far as her appearance is considered, but she possesses a charming nature that proves her to be friendly and simple. She appears to be sophisticated and yet warm and approachable. Her love for junk foods like pancakes with chocolate spread and orange drinks appears at odds with her fondness for evening gowns.

Question 4.
Explain: “all this happened in almost no time”.
Answer:
The phrase “all this happened in almost no time” means that Maria’s rose to the top in the world of tennis was very quickly and within a very short span of four years as a professional player she became the world number one in her chosen sport.

Question 5.
What does Maria declare to be her ‘mantra for success’?
Answer:
Maria works really hard to fulfill her dreams. She does not shy away from making any sacrifice. She does not allow herself to be emotional and sentimental. She is very competitive and works hard to be the best in whatever she does. She is driven by her hunger to succeed and the dream of becoming the world number one in women’s tennis. This is her mantra for success.

Question 6.
How was Maria different from other children?
Answer:
Maria was calmer and more composed, more confident and tolerant than the other children of her age. She also had inner strength that enabled her to make sacrifices – staying away from her mother, getting bullied by senior players in the hostel – that few children could think of making. Unlike most children, she did not buckle under hardships and adverse circumstances, but toiled hard to achieve success.

Question 7.
Why was Maria brought to Florida in the USA by her father? Why didn’t her mother go with her? How did Maria respond to this separation?
Answer:
Maria was brought to Florida, USA, by her father, Yuri, to get trained as a professional tennis player and reach great heights of success and stardom in this sport. Her mother, Yelena, did not go with her because of visa restrictions. This two-year separation was very painful for the young girl. But Maria endured this sacrifice to pursue her dreams.

Question 8.
How does Maria describe her journey from Siberia to United States?
Answer:
Maria was just nine years old when she had to leave her home, mother and her country to go to the United States. She had to make many sacrifices in a foreign land where she did not even speak the language. She was bullied by senior players and had to face a lot of humiliation and insults. But she did not give in. Her competitive nature and hard work helped her become the world number one in women’s tennis.

Question 9.
What important lesson did Maria learn during the first two years of her stay in the USA, away from her mother?
Answer:
During her first two years in USA, when she was living away from her mother Maria learnt that excellence comes at a price. Since she wished to reach the top in the field of tennis, she would have to make sacrifices and struggle hard. She endured the heart-wrenching separation from her mother for two years to attain her goal. Moreover, she also learnt how to put up patiently with adverse circumstances.

Question 10.
Maria’s father accompanied her to USA but why could he also not see her during her stay there?
Answer:
Maria’s father, Yuri, had brought his nine-year-old daughter to the USA to get her trained in tennis. U Unfortunately, he too could not see her frequently as he had to work very hard to earn to pay for her training.

Question 11.
How did some of the other pupils at the tennis academy trouble her? How did Maria cope with this?
Answer:
The other pupils at the tennis academy were much older than Maria and would return to the room around 11 pm when Maria was already asleep. They would wake her up and make her clean and tidy up the room. Maria coped with this trouble by not allowing it to depress her. Instead this strengthened her determination and mental toughness.

Question 12.
Why did Maria not retaliate against the humiliation at the hands of the other pupils?
Answer:
Maria was working hard to attain the world number one position in women’s tennis. She had no time to retaliate against others and their humiliation. She also had no time for sentiments. So, instead of retaliating against the humiliation at the hands of the other pupils, she took it as a challenge and worked harder to achieve success.

Question 13.
Despite being harassed by her seniors, why didn’t Maria think of quitting?
Answer:
Instead of letting the harassment by her seniors depress her and get her to quit, she became more quietly determined and mentally tough. She learnt how to take care of herself and never thought of quitting because she knew what she wanted. Her hunger for success and determination to achieve prompted her to put up with the humiliation and insults in order to steadfastly pursue her dream.

Question 14.
Describe Maria’s struggle to reach at the top of the world in the field of the women tennis.
Answer:
Maria started working to achieve her goal at a very young age, making any sacrifices required. She had to face separation from her mother and stay in completely unfamiliar and hostile surroundings for years. She also faced humiliation but never let it affect negatively. She took it as a challenge and with her mental toughness and competitive nature, she succeeded in achieving her goal.

Question 15.
What mental qualities of Maria are revealed by her decision not to quit and pack up on being harassed by her fellow-trainees?
Answer:
The torment and humiliation inflicted on Maria by her fellow trainees failed to demoralise her. This reveals that she had a firm determination and strong-will. She was much more mature than other girls of her age and knew the art of survival.

Question 16.
What makes Maria very hungry and determined?
Answer:
Maria came from a middle class background, where she had known deprivation. She didn’t want to miss any opportunity to succeed. She bore unfavourable and painful situations with forbearance. She lived apart from her mother, suffered bullying by older players, but never took it to heart. She said that if you came from nothing and you had nothing, it made you very hungry and determined.

Question 17.
What motivates Maria to keep moving ahead?
Answer:
Maria is motivated by her spirit of competitiveness to keep moving ahead. She works very hard once she has decided to achieve something. She considers it her job to excel despite severe hardships and demands.

Question 18.
Despite staying in America for years, Maria is a Russian at the core of her heart. Justify.
Answer:
Maria moved to Florida, USA, from Siberia at the young age of nine. Since then she has spent most part of her life here. Yet, she has remained a Russian through and through. She is proud of her Russian blood and Russian citizenship. She adds that she would play for Russia in the Olympics if given an opportunity.

Question 19.
Why does Maria call the US a big part of her life?
Answer:
Maria was trained for tennis in the US and attained the number one position in women’s tennis in the game as a result of the training. It was in the USA that she developed confidence, self-control, strength of will and endurance – qualities that are pre-requisites for a person to reach the top in any field. Since she gained all this in the US, she calls it a big part of her life.

Question 20.
In addition to tennis, what else is Maria fond of?
Answer:
Maria’s first love is tennis. Apart from this sport, she is fond of fashion, singing and dancing like any other young girl of her age. She also likes to read Arthur Canon Doyle’s novels, is fond of sophisticated evening gowns and enjoys pancakes with chocolate-spread and fizzy orange drinks.

Question 21.
What has lifted Maria Sharapova to the top of the world?
Answer:
Maria’s talent, her unwavering determination, her hunger for success, her willingness to work hard, her readiness to endure challenges, and her sacrifices have lifted her to the top of the world. In addition, monetary gains have motivated her to reach the top.

Question 22.
Why do her fans not grudge Maria her riches?
Answer:
Maria’s fans are aware of the immense hard work that has gone into making her attain the number one position in women’s tennis. The unparalleled sacrifices she made were investments that she is reaping the dividends of. Her earnest efforts and hard work have resulted in financial rewards that are well earned and well deserved. Therefore, nobody feels jealous of or grudges Maria her riches.

Question 23.
Why does Maria call tennis a business and a sport?
Answer:
Tennis is a competitive sport like any other and requires the player display stamina, nerve, determination, planning and strategizing. It is also a business because it is played professionally for money. Tennis tournaments involve millions of pounds being spent on sponsorship and prize money. Tennis generates a lot of business for media, drinks, clothes and sports companies too.

Question 24.
What makes How are Maria’s achievements significant?
Answer:
Maria exemplifies the success achieved through hard work and dedication. Her patience, determination, iron will and persistence and her hunger for success make her an ideal role model for the girls all over the world. Her winning Wimbledon and then becoming world’s number one woman tennis player also makes her achievement significant.

Question 25.
“Maria’s parents played an important role in her success? How? What other things motivated her?
Answer:
When Maria was only nine years old her training started. She moved to USA with her father, Yuri, leaving her mother, Yelena, behind in Russia as she had visa problems. In USA, her father had to work very hard to keep Maria’s tennis training going. Her mother stayed alone in Siberia without her husband and daughter to give her daughter the chance to succeed.

Reach for the Top Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
What do you know about Maria Sharapova’s parents?
Answer:
Maria’s parents, Yuri and Yelena Sharapova, Maria Sharapova’s father and mother contributed to her success by identifing their daughter’s potential at a very young age and going all out to get her the best tennis training that could be had in the USA. They knew well that it was going to be expensive and difficult, still they extended their full support to their talented daughter.

Yuri worked very hard to pay for Maria’s training and Yelena tolerated the heart-wrenching separation from her dearly loved child for two years. As parents, they displayed unflinching faith in their child’s abilities which gave Maria the boost to keep going ahead and to overcome the challenges that came her way.

Question 2.
What problems did Maria face as a child while she trained at the tennis academy in Florida? What sustained her?
Answer:
As a young child Maria had to make many sacrifices and endure loneliness in her struggle to reach the top. She came to the U.S. at the young age of nine years without her mother, who could not accompany Maria and her father due to some visa restrictions. During the first two years of their heart-wrenching separation she missed her mother terribly.

Though her father had accompanied her to the USA, he too could not frequently visit her as he had to spend a lot of time to earn money to pay for Maria’s tennis training. Apart from it, the other trainees at the tennis academy in Florida bullied, tormented and humiliated her. They were inconsiderate to Maria who was much younger and woke her up late at night and made her tidy up and clean the room.

Yet, Maria never let these problems get the better of her. Her eyes firmly fixed on achieving her goal of becoming the number one player in women’s tennis, Maria endured the hardships without thinking of quitting. In fact, the problems she faced strengthened her will-power and made her even more determined to succeed.

Question 3.
One has to sacrifice something to achieve something good in life. Do you agree? Justify with reference to Maria Sharapova.
Answer:
Yes, I agree without sacrifice one can never achieve good things in life. Maria Sharapova is an example of the truth of this statement. Maria Sharapova had to sacrifice her childhood pleasures in order to become a tennis star. She left her home at a tender age to achieve her goal in life.

At the age of nine, she came to USA with her father. Her mother could not accompany her as she had some visa restrictions. Her father, who had accompanied her to USA, had to work very hard to pay for her tennis training. She was not able to meet him often. At the hostel, she was bullied by the older players, who woke her up late at night to clean and tidy up the room. If she had not sacrificed her childhood, she would not have become a star.

Question 4.
The lives of Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova have much in common to prove that determined and consistent hard work paves the way to success. Identify the points of comparison and contrast in the lives of these two great players.
Answer:
Santosh Yadav, the legendary mountaineer from India, and Maria Sharapova, Russia’s tennis sensation who trained in the USA, are living examples that single-minded determination and dedication and consistent hard work are the way to success. Both young women had to struggle against odds to reach the top. Santosh belonged to a small village in the Rewari district of Haryana while Maria came from the frozen plains of Siberia where she did not have adequate training facilities.

Although both girls were supported by their respective parents, Santosh, at times, had to struggle to make her conservative family agree to her decisions, while Maria’s parents were willing to make any sacrifice to help Maria succeed. However, both the young girls had to sacrifice the loving and protective environment of their homes in order to train for their passion.

Both the women had unwavering determination, physical and mental strength, and undivided focus on their goals. They both rose to the number one position in their respective areas within a short span of four years. While Sharapova moved from the frozen Siberia to the plains of Florida, Yadav moved from the plains of Rewari to the frozen Mount Everest. But both of them are devout patriots and their love for their country remains constant.

Reach for the Top Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
There is something disarming about Maria Sharapova, something at odds with her ready smile and glamorous attire. And that something in her lifted her on Monday, 22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women’s tennis. All this happened in almost no time.

(a) What contrast does Maria present?
Answer:
Maria Sharapova has a charming manner and is quick to smile. This spontaneous behaviour is at odds with her glamorous attire.

(b) What position did Maria achieve in 2005?
Answer:
She became world number one in women’s tennis.

(c) How long had it taken her to reach this position?
Answer:
It had taken her merely four years to reach this position.

(d) Where had Maria come from? How old was she then?
Answer:
Maria had come to USA from Siberia at the age of nine.

Question 2.
However, the rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began nine years before with a level of sacrifice few children would be prepared to endure.

(a) What does the phrase “rapid ascent” refer to?
Answer:
The phrase “rapid ascent” refers to the short period of time in which Maria Sharapova achieved so much success.

(b) What had happened nine years ago?
Answer:
Nine years ago Maria had come to USA from Siberia to receive training in tennis.

(c) What sacrifice did Maria have to make?
Answer:
Maria came to USA with her father while her mother had to stay back in Russia.

(d) What lesson did this teach the young Maria?
Answer:
Maria learnt that that tennis excellence would only come at a price, and she would need to pay that price.

Question 3.
Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. That trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and stardom. But it also required a heart-wrenching two-year separation from her mother Yelena.

(a) How old was Maria when she came to the United States?
Answer:
Maria Sharapova came to the United States when she was just nine years old.

(b) From where did she make the journey to Florida and why?
Answer:
She came to Florida from the frozen plains in Russia with the purpose of taking training in tennis.

(c) What was the ‘heart-wrenching’ thing about the journey?
Answer:
The ‘heart-wrenching’ thing was that she had to part from her mother for two years.

(d) Why could her mother not accompany her?
Answer:
Her mother could not accompany her because of visa restrictions.

Question 4.
“I used to be so lonely, ” Maria Sharapova recalls. “I missed my mother terribly. My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis-training going. So, he couldn’t see me either. ”

(a) What does the word ‘recalls’ in the passage imply?
Answer:
The word ‘recalls’ implies that Maria is sharing her memories with someone.

(b) Why was Maria lonely at the time?
Answer:
Maria was staying at the tennis academy at the time. She was only nine years old and did not speak English so could not communicate with the others. That is why she felt very lonely.

(c) Why did Maria’s father have to work so hard?
Answer:
‘ Maria’s father worked hard to earn enough money for paying the fees at the tennis training academy at Florida. ‘

(d) Where was Maria’s mother at the time? How long did it take for her to arrive in USA?
Answer:
Maria’s mother was still in Russia at the time due to visa restrictions. She joined her husband and Maria after two years.

Question 5.
Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough.

(a) Where was the speaker at the time?
Answer:
The speaker, Maria Sharapova, was at the tennis academy at Florida.

(b) What was ‘that’ which could not depress her?
Answer:
The senior trainees in the tennis training academy at Florida bullied and tormented Maria. They would wake her up late at night and order her to tidy up the room and clean it.

(c) What was the impact of ‘that’ on her?
Answer:
‘That’ – or – the bullying of her seniors made her more determined and mentally strong.

(d) What does the extract reveal about the speaker’s character?
Answer:
The extract reveals that the speaker had the ability to face difficult situations boldly and not yield to adverse circumstances.

Question 6.
The straight looks and the answers she gives when asked about her ambition make it amply clear that she considers the sacrifices were worth it. “I am very, very competitive. I work hard at what I do. It’s my job. ” This is her mantra for success.

(a) How does Maria show she is not a sentimental person?
Answer:
Maria shows she is not sentimental by not talking too much on her struggle and sacrifice.

(b) What does the writer mean by “straight looks”?
Answer:
The writer means that as she talks about herself, Maria looks boldly and steadily, and does not show much emotion or sentimentality.

(c) What helped Maria win the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon in 2004?
Answer:
Her ambition and desire to succeed, her toughness and her competitive spirit helped Maria win the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon in 2004.

(d) Why does the writer say there is no room for sentiment in her life?
Answer:
Sentiment would make her softer and less competitive.

Question 7.
“I’m Russian. It’s true that the U.S. is a big part of my life. But I have Russian citizenship. My blood is totally Russian. I will play the Olympics for Russia if they want me. ”

(a) What light does this statement throw on Maria’s character?
Answer:
Maria Sharapova takes immense pride in her nationality.

(b) What does she say about the US?
Answer:
Maria acknowledges the contribution of the USA where she took training in tennis and became the world number one tennis player.

(c) Why does the speaker say, ‘My blood is totally Russian’?
Answer:
Maria claims this because she was born to Russian parents in Russia. She did spend a large part of her life in the USA, but she proudly declares her Russian identity.

(d) Given a chance, what will Maria like to do for Russia?
Answer:
Being a Russian, and proud of her nationality, Maria would like to represent Russia in the Olympics and make them proud, if given an opportunity.

Question 8.
Few would grudge her the riches she is now reaping.

(a) How is she ‘reaping’ the ‘riches’?
Answer:
Maria has been declared the number one in women’s tennis. She earns a good deal of money from her game.

(b) Why would few grudge her the riches?
Answer:
Everybody is aware of the fact that Maria has reached the top by making a lot of sacrifices and by working extremely hard. Hence, the riches that she is earning from her game are well deserved and everybody readily agrees on this.

(c) Why has the word ‘reaping’ been used for riches?
Answer:
The word ‘reaping’ has been used metaphorically. Just as reaping the harvest is the reward for the hard work of the farmer, similarly earning money is the reward for Maria Sharapova’s labour and sacrifice.

(d) What according to her is the biggest motivation for her to do well?
Answer:
The biggest motivation for Maria to do well is to become the World number one in tennis.

Question 9.
Tennis is a business and a sport, but the most important thing is to become number one in the world.

(a) Why does Maria call tennis “a business”?
Answer:
For Maria, playing tennis as a professional game requires following rules and regulations and hard work just as running a business does. Also, as in business, tennis too brings profits in terms of name, fame and money.

(b) According to Maria, why is tennis also a ‘sport’ in addition to being a business?
Answer:
Maria calls tennis a sport, in addition to being a business, as it gives excitement and thrill just like other sporting events do. Every match is filled with expectations and anxiety both among the players and the spectators.

(c) What light does the extract throw on Maria’s personality?
Answer:
The extract shows that Maria is very practical and pragmatic in her views. She does not deny that winning at tennis is monetarily rewarding.

(d) Why did Maria wish to become number one in the world?
Answer:
Maria’s childhood dream was to become the number one tennis player in the world. She worked very hard and made a lot of sacrifices to train herself for this feat.

Question 10.
Like any number of teenaged sensations, Maria Sharapova lists fashion, singing and dancing as her hobbies. She loves reading the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle. Her fondness for sophisticated evening gowns appears at odds with her love of pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.

(a) What are Maria’s hobbies?
Answer:
Maria’s hobbies include fashion, singing and dancing.

(b) What does Maria like to read?
Answer:
Maria likes to read the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle.

(c) What contrast does Maria present in her tastes?
Answer:
While Maria lists fashion as her hobby and likes to wear sophisticated evening gowns, she is also fond of junk food like pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.

(d) What light does this throw on Maria’s character?
Answer:
She combines the sophistication of a fashionista with the simplicity of a teenager.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Class 9

Online Education for The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

In a nutshell, “The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Class 9” portrays the relentless struggle of a snake attempting to bite its own tail, serving as a powerful metaphor for the eternal cycle of existence and the pursuit of self-realization. The poem’s brevity and depth of meaning make it a fascinating subject of analysis. Ross’s eloquent verses captivate readers as they unravel the complexities of life and its inherent contradictions through the actions of a determined serpent. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

Online Education for The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive

The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What is the snake trying to escape from?
Answer:
The snake is trying to escape from a being hit by a stick, or even worse, being killed. It is being chased by someone with a stick. The person is afraid of the snake and perceives it as a potential threat.

Question 2.
Is the snake harmful?
Answer:
No, it is not a harmful snake as it is not poisonous. The poet says the snake is a green one. Green snakes are generally garden snakes and are considered harmless as they are not venomous.

Question 3.
Why did the person with a stick attack the snake?
Answer:
The person attacked the snake when he saw it lying on the sand. He was driven by his own fear of snakes and their being venomous that led him to attack the snake to either kill it or drive it away.

Question 4.
What do you learn about the person attacking the snake?
Answer:
The person attacking the snake is governed by his fear of snakes. He wishes to kill or hurt the snake and rushes in to attack the snake, without pausing to consider that the snake is a green garden snake which is not venomous. Moreover, the snake is lying on the sand and is not about to attack anyone. The man is also pitiless as he goes to hurt or kill the snake.

Question 5.
What does the poet wish for the snake?
Answer:
The poet sees the snake as a beautiful creation of Nature. Moreover, it is a green garden snake and not a harmful one. He wishes that it should not be assaulted with the stick. It should be allowed to go under the water into the reeds to hide without being hurt.

Question 6.
Where was the snake before someone saw it and chased it away? Where does the snake disappear?
Answer:
The snake was lying unobserved on the sand till someone saw it and, fearing it, rushed to attack it with a stick. The pursuer chased it away. The snake disappeared in the ripples of the water among the green reeds.

Question 7.
What does the poet mean when he says ‘O Let him go’?
Answer:
The poet tells the man chasing the snake with a stick to let the snake go. The poet wishes that the snake should not be hurt and should be allowed to make its escape and reach its destination safely.

Question 8.
‘He is harmless even to children.’ What does the poet think about the snake?
Answer:
The poet is of the opinion that the snake which is being chased is a green snake of the garden variety and is not venomous. It is not harmful, not even to children who are more vulnerable. He feels the snake should not be hurt and should be allowed to reach its place safely.

Question 9.
What impression do you form of the poet in this poem?
Answer:
The poet loves Nature and all its creations. He finds the snake and its graceful movements beautiful. He is compassionate and does not want the snake harmed. He tries to stop the person with the stick from attacking the snake and is happy to see the snake glide away into the reeds.

Question 10.
What is the central idea of the poem “The Snake Trying”?
Answer:
The poet says that all snakes are not venomous or harmful. Nor do they attack without provocation. Even if a snake is poisonous, it will do us no harm if it doesn’t see any danger from us. It is wrong to attack or kill a snake as soon as we see it. But sadly, human beings always try to kill a snake as soon as they see it. All creatures have a right to their life. Like the snake in this poem all try to save themselves in case of danger.

Question 11.
How does the snake look when it tries to escape?
Answer:
The snake was lying on the sand when someone saw it and chased it with a stick. The snake glided away through the water and disappeared among the reeds. It looked beautiful and graceful and its body curved and glided across the water.

Question 12.
Where did the snake finally go? How did the poet view its escape?
Answer:
The snake glided away through the water into the reeds and finally disappeared among the ripples in the green reeds. The poet heaved a sigh of relief when the snake reached there safely

Question 13.
What is the message of the poem ‘The Snake Trying’?
Answer:
The poet conveys the message that we should not attack or kill animals, even animals that may be venomous like snakes. He points out that not all snakes are poisonous; in fact, some of them are quite harmless. Human beings are cruel and attack snakes without provocation, based on their own fears. Even if a snake is poisonous, it will not harm anyone until it perceives some danger because a snake only bites in self¬protection.

Question 14.
Is the snake in the poem ‘The Snake Trying’ a victim or a threat?
Answer:
The snake in the poem ‘The Snake Trying’ is a victim and not a threat. It is a harmless snake, who is lying on the sand till he is chased by a human being with a stick. Yet, despite being attacked, the snake makes good its escape, rather than retaliate.

The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Why does the man want to kill the snake? How does the snake protect itself?
Answer:
Seeing the snake lying on the sand, the man sees it as a potential threat and reacts to it in that manner. He takes a stick and rushes to attack the snake. He tries to kill it, or at least hurt it. The snake, which is a garden snake, and not dangerous even to children, makes good its escape. He does not react even to provocation.

He only tries to escape before the man can reach it and kill it. The movement of the snake is very graceful and elegant. The snake does not stick to one straight path but wends its way in and out of the path. At last, the snake floats over the water and hides itself among the green reeds.

The Snake Trying Extra Questions and Answers Reference to Context

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
The snake trying
to escape the pursuing stick,
with sudden curvings of thin
long body.

(a) Where is the snake?
Answer:
The snake is lying on the sandy bank of a pond or stream.

(b) What is the snake trying to escape from?
Answer:
The snake is trying to escape from being hit with a stick.

(c) How does the snake move?
Answer:
The snake glides gracefully with curving movements.

(d) Is it a harmful snake?
Answer:
No, the snake is not harmful.

Question 2.
How beautiful
and graceful are his shapes!
He glides through the water away
from the stroke.

(a) Whose shapes are beautiful?
Answer:
The snake’s shapes as it moves away.

(b) How is it trying to escape?
Answer:
It is trying to escape with sudden curving of its long thin body.

(c) Who is the assailant?
Answer:
Man is the assailant as he attacks the snake with a stick.

(d) Why does the poet want the pursuer to let the snake go?
Answer:
The poet wants the pursuer to let the snake go as it is harmless.

Question 3.
O let him go
over the water
into the reeds to hide
without hurt.

(a) Who is the speaker? Who is he speaking to?
Answer:
The poet is speaking to the man speaking to the man pursuing the snake.

(b) Who is ‘him’?
Answer:
‘Him’ refers to the snake.

(c) Why is the speaker telling the listener to let him go?
Answer:
The speaker is telling the listener to let the snake go because it is harmless.

(d) Where does the snake go and why?
Answer:
The snake goes through the water to save itself from the man pursuing it with a stick.

Question 4.
O let him go
over the water
into the reeds to hide
without hurt. Small and green
he is harmless even to children.

(a) What is the snake trying to escape from?
Answer:
The snake trying to escape from the man about to attack it with a stick.

(b) Is it a harmful snake?
Answer:
The snake is harmless even for children.

(c) What does the snake look like?
Answer:
It is small and green in colour and looks very graceful.

(d) What does the poet wish for the snake?
Answer:
The poet wished the snake to be saved.

Question 5.
Along the sand
he lay until observed
and chased away, and now
he vanishes in the ripples
among the green slim reeds.

(a) Where was the snake before someone saw it and chased it away?
Answer:
The snake was lying on the sand till someone saw it and again chased it away.

(b) Where does the snake disappear?
Answer:
The snake disappears in the ripples of water among the green reeds.

(c) What impression do you form of the poet?
Answer:
The poet is compassionate and loves nature.

(d) What impression do you form of the pursuer?
Answer:
He is pitiless and governed by his fears.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

The Adventures of Toto Extra Questions and Answers Class 9

The Adventures of Toto Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

Embark on an extraordinary journey with “The Adventures of Toto Extra Questions and Answers Class 9,” a delightful tale that will captivate your imagination and warm your heart. In this blog post, we will unravel the enchanting escapades of Toto, a clever and mischievous monkey, and explore the valuable life lessons hidden within the narrative. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

The Adventures of Toto Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

The Adventures of Toto Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Where did Grandfather buy Toto from and why?
Answer:
He bought Toto from a tonga-driver. The tonga-driver used to keep it tied to a feeding trough where the monkey looked highly out of place, so he decided to buy him to add to his private zoo.

Questions Question 2.
Describe Toto the monkey that Grandfather bought from the tonga-driver.
Answer:
Toto was a pretty monkey with bright eyes that sparkled with mischief under deep-set eyebrows. He had pearly white teeth which he bared in a smile that frightened old Anglo-Indian ladies. His skin was wrinkled, with his hands looking pickled in the sun. His finger was quick and wicked and his tail acted as a third hand for him.

Questions Question 3.
Why did the narrator and his Grandfather hide Toto?
Answer:
The narrator’s Grandmother was always upset whenever his Grandfather brought an animal home. So, they hid Toto in a closet till they could find Grandmother in a good mood before introducing her to Toto.

Question 4.
Do you think Grandmother was a keen lover like his Grandfather? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
No, Grandmother was not so fond of animals as it is mentioned she used to fuss a lot whenever Grandfather got a new animal home. Also the fact that Grandfather had to return the monkey to the tonga-driver because of its mischief was because of his fear of Grandmother’s reactions to them.

Question 5.
Why was Grandfather pleased even though Toto had escaped from the closet? What does this tell us about his character?
Answer:
He was pleased at Toto’s intelligence and how he had managed to get free from the peg he had been tied to. This reveals the fact that he was a true animal lover and enjoyed the antics of the monkey.

Question 6.
How did Toto manage to escape from the closet? What does this reveal about the monkey?
Answer:
He pulled out the peg he had been tied to from the wall inside the closet and escaped from it. This reveals how intelligent, resourceful and mischievous the monkey was.

Question 7.
Where did Grandfather hide Toto after his escape from the closet?
Answer:
He hid him in the servant’s quarters and transferred him to a big cage where a number of other pets had been housed.

Question 8.
Why did Grandfather decide to take Toto to Saharanpur?
Answer:
Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to get his pension and he felt that if he left Toto behind he would not allow any of the animals in the servant’s quarters to sleep all night. So, he decided to take him along.

Question 9.
How did Grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur?
Answer:
He put the monkey in a big black canvas kit-bag with some straw at the bottom. When the bag was closed there was no place for the monkey to escape from as he could not get his hands out of the neck which was tied securely, and the canvas was too thick for him to bite his way out.

Question 10.
Why did Grandfather have to pay three rupees to the Ticket-Collector?
Answer:
He had to pay the money as ticket money for the monkey. The Ticket-Collector insisted on calling the monkey a dog and charged the fare

Question 11.
Why did the Ticket-Collector not charge any fare for the tortoise?
Answer:
According to the Ticket-Collector one had to pay only if carrying a dog in the train and since it was not a dog Grandfather did not have to pay for it.

Question 12.
Was Grandfather alone during his journey to Saharanpur? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
No, he was not alone, as he was accompanied by his monkey Toto and his tortoise.

Question 13.
What were the changes that took place in the life of Toto after he was accepted by Grandmother?
Answer:
There was no longer any need to hide Toto and he was now given a comfortable room in the stable which he had to share with the family donkey, Nana.

Question 14.
Did Toto and Nana become friends? Give reasons for your answer.
No, they never became friends because Toto troubled Nana on the very first night he was left to share the room with her. He bit the donkey, fastening on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth.

Question 15.
What did Toto consider a treat on winter evenings? Why?
Answer:
Toto loved sitting in warm water and when Grandfather would keep a large bowl of warm water for his bath, Toto considered it a treat.

Question 16.
Cite an example from Toto’s behaviour during bath time that reveals his intelligence.
Answer:
The fact that Toto would test the temperature of his bath water before stepping into it shows that he was very intelligent.

Question 17.
How did Toto almost boil himself one day?
Answer:
One day Toto found a large kitchen kettle left to boil on the fire. Finding the water just warm enough for a bath, he got in with his head sticking out from the open kettle. This was fine for a while until the water began to boil. Toto raised himself a little but finding it cold outside sat down again. He continued hopping up and down for some time until Grandmother pulled him out, half-boiled.

Question 18.
Cite one example to show that Toto was a mischievous monkey.
Answer:
Toto loved tearing things to pieces and whenever anyone came near him, he would make an effort to get hold of their dresses and tear a hole in it. He also threw down a large plate of pulao to spite Grandmother.

Question 19.
What do the various antics of Toto, like almost boiling himself or tearing people’s dresses and throwing a large dish of pulao down reveal about him?
Answer:
These incidents show that Toto was extremely mischievous, had a sense of adventure and he was fearless.

Question 20.
Why did Grandfather have to return Toto to the tonga-driver?
Answer:
He had to do so because the monkey was causing a lot of disturbance and damage to the property at home which the family could ill-afford. He broke dishes, tore down curtains, clothes and wallpaper.

Question 21.
How does Toto come to Grandfather’s private zoo?
Answer:
He was bought by Grandfather from the tonga-driver who owned him and kept him tied to the water trough. Grandfather took pity on him and decided to add him to his private zoo.

Question 22.
“Toto was a pretty monkey”. In what way?
Answer:
Toto looked pretty due to his bright sparkling eyes under deep set eyebrows and pearly white teeth which were often displayed in a smile. Though his hands looked dried up, his tail added to his good looks.

Question 23.
Mention the animals that were kept in Grandfather’s private zoo?
Answer:
They were Toto the monkey, Nana the donkey, a pair of rabbits, a tortoise, a tame squirrel and a goat.

Question 24.
How do we know that Grandmother was not as fond of collecting animals as Grandfather?
Answer:
The fact that Grandfather had to hide the monkey, Toto in the closet after buying him off from the tonga-driver tells us that he was afraid Grandmother would create a fuss if she saw that he had made yet another addition to his collection of animals. Thus we get to know that she was not as ardent a lover of animals as Grandfather.

The Adventures of Toto Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Why does Grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the Ticket-Collector insist on calling it a dog?
Answer:
Grandfather was forced to take Toto to Saharanpur because he was so mischievous that he troubled every soul in the house whether humans or animals and also caused damage to property. No one could predict what he would be up to at the next moment. He took him tied in a canvas cloth bag which he could not chew his way out of. The Ticket-Collector could not find the fare to be charged for a monkey in his rule book, so he decided to categorise the monkey on the basis of its size and charge the fare he would for a dog.

Question 2.
Describe how Toto would take a bath. Where had he learnt to do this? How did Toto almost boil himself?
Answer:
Toto had learnt how to bathe by watching the narrator take a bath. He would first test the temperature of the bath water with his hand before stepping into it one foot at a time until he was up to his neck in water. Once comfortable he would then take the soap in his hands or feet and rub himself all over. Finally, when the water
got cold he would step out and run as quickly as he could to the kitchen to dry himself before the fire burning there.

One day, he found a large kitchen kettle left to boil on the fire. Finding the water just warm enough for a bath he got in with his head sticking out from the open kettle. This was fine for a while until it began to boil. Then he raised himself a little but finding it cold outside sat down again. He continued hopping up and down for some time until Grandmother pulled him out, half-boiled.

Question 3.
Why does the author say that “Toto was not the sort of pet one could keep for long’?
Answer:
He says this because though the monkey was very pretty he was extremely naughty and caused a lot of damage and destruction to the property at home which the family could ill-afford. He broke dishes, tore down curtains, clothes and wallpaper. He tore the dresses of the author’s aunts, troubled the other animals in the house and one day he climbed a tree with a plateful of pulao which was meant for the family lunch.

He had intended to eat it but when he was scolded by Grandmother he threw it down causing the plate to fall and all the food to go to waste. Therefore, Grandfather realised the folly of trying to keep the monkey at home and returned him to the tonga-driver from whom he had bought him in the first place.

Question 4.
Discuss the incident that took place at the railway station?
Answer:
Once Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur by train and he decided to take his monkey Toto along with him in a canvas bag from which it could not escape. The monkey of course did not sit still in the bag but kept rolling on the ground, much to the surprise of the fellow passengers. The monkey remained in the bag till Saharanpur but while Grandfather was producing his ticket at the railway turnstile, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag and grinned widely at the Ticket Collector who then forced Grandfather to pay a fare for the monkey much against the latter’s wishes.

Question 5.
Grandfather was a great animal lover. Discuss.
Answer:
Yes, Grandfather was a great animal lover. This can be proved from the fact that he had a private zoo which housed a tortoise, a donkey, a tame squirrel, a pair of rabbits and a monkey all in a cage in the servants’ quarters. In fact he paid a sum of five rupees for the monkey who he felt sorry for as he found him chained to the water trough by the tonga-driver. He also willingly travelled with not only the monkey but also a tortoise on his trip to Saharanpur.

He also put up with the mischief and destruction caused by the monkey as far as he could till he knew that the family would no longer support him in allowing the monkey to stay with them. He finally sold him back to the tonga-driver for just three rupees.

Question 6.
Based on your reading of the lesson “Adventures of Toto”, do you think it is a great idea to keep animals as pets?
Answer:
The story discusses both the fascination of some people for animals and the problems that can arise when one decides to keep an animal as a pet. This can be disadvantageous not only to the family keeping an animal but also to the animal as we see in the case of Toto, who almost boils himself before he is rescued by the family. In fact it also raises questions about the necessity of taking animals away from their natural environment and domesticating them and exposing them to the dangers that arise from human living.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English

In the Kingdom of Fools Extra Questions and Answers Class 9

In the Kingdom of Fools Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

Step into the extraordinary realm of “In the Kingdom of Fools Extra Questions and Answers Class 9,” a captivating story that blends the elements of fantasy, wisdom, and satire. In this blog post, we will unravel the enchanting narrative of this thought-provoking tale and delve into the profound themes and insights it offers. Read this also Extra Questions for Class 9 English with Answers.

In the Kingdom of Fools Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Moments

In the Kingdom of Fools Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the kingdom of fools?
Answer:
Firstly, they find that the whole town, including the animals, slept by day and stayed awake through the night running their businesses. Secondly, everything costs the same, whether it was a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas—they all cost a duddu.

Question 2.
Why was the kingdom called the Kingdom of Fools?
Answer:
It was called so because the Kind and the minister were idiots. They decided to change night into day and day into night, and ordered everyone to wake at night to till their fields, and sleep during the day.

Question 3.
Why did the people follow the orders of the foolish King?
Answer:
They were forced to do so because they knew that if they disobeyed his orders, they would be punished with death.

Question 4.
What astonished the guru and disciple at the grocer’s shop?
Answer:
They were astonished that everything at the shop whether a measure of rice or a bunch of bananas cost the same, i.e., a duddu.

Question 5.
Compare and contrast the feelings of the guru and the disciple about the kingdom they found themselves in.
Answer:
The guru felt that it would not be a great idea to stay in the kingdom, and they should leave the place. On the -other hand, the disciple refused to leave, because he felt that everything was so cheap and good, that he could eat to his heart’s content.

Question 6.
Why did the guru leave the disciple and go away from the Kingdom of Fools?
Answer:
Since the disciple refused to listen to his guru’s wisdom and insisted on staying there, the guru gave up and left.

Question 7.
What made the disciple grow fat?
Answer:
The disciple ate his fill of bananas, ghee, rice, and wheat, which cost only one duddu. As a result, he grew fatter and fatter.

Question 8.
Why does the writer say that ‘one bright day a thief broke into a rich merchant’s house’? What is strange about this statement?
Answer:
The strange thing is that the theft took place during the daylight hours. In any other place, theft would typically take place during the dark of night. However, the people in the Kingdom of Fools slept during the day and woke at night.

Question 9.
Why did the thief s brother run to the King?
Answer:
He ran to the King to complain about the fact that his brother had been killed because the wall of the house he had gone to rob had fallen on him.”

Question 10.
Do you think the plea made by the thief s brother was strange? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, it was strange, because instead of hiding the fact that his brother was a thief, and had died trying to rob the merchant’s house, he went to the King without any fear and demanded justice.

Question 11.
Do you think it was normal for the King to have demanded an explanation from the merchant for the death of the thief? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
No, because the thief had been doing something illegal, and yet the man he had tried to rob was being put on trial. Even though the thief died because of the wall collapsing, the merchant was not responsible for the death.

Question 12.
How does the merchant try to save his life?
Answer:
He tries to do so by blaming the brick-layer for building a wall that was so weak that it collapsed on the thief, killing him.

Question 13.
Who does the brick-layer blame for the weak wall that he had built?
Answer:
The brick-layer blames the dancing girl for distracting him by walking up and down the road in front of him with her anklets jingling.

Question 14.
Who does the dancing girl blame for her going up and down the road in front of the brick-layer?
Answer:
The dancing girl blames the goldsmith, who had to make some jewellery for her, but had not made it in time. Because of this, she had to visit him several times, thereby walking up and down the street in front of the brick-layer, disturbing him.

Question 15.
How does the goldsmith save himself from the wrath of the King?
Answer:
The goldsmith blamed a rich merchant for pressurising him to make some jewellery for him, thereby not leaving him with any time to complete the dancing girl’s jewellery. Therefore, he blames the rich merchant for being indirectly responsible for the thief’s death.

Question 16.
How does the blame come back to the rich merchant who had been accused in the first place?
Answer:
On investigating the identity of the rich merchant who had asked the goldsmith to make jewellery for him, it was found to be the father of the merchant who had been blamed for the thief’s death in the first place. However, as the father was now dead and the son had inherited his riches, the King decided that the son would also be responsible for taking his punishment.

Question 17.
Why did the King not decide to execute the merchant even though he found him responsible for the death of the thief?
Answer:
He decided not to execute the merchant because he felt he was too thin to be properly executed on the stake. He felt they needed someone fatter to fit the stake.

Question 18.
How did the guru divine that his disciple was in trouble? What did he do?
Answer:
The guru had magical powers. He could see far into the future, the past and the present. When the disciple prayed to him in his heart, he heard him and appeared before him to help him.

Question 19.
Why did the guru pretend to fight with his disciple?
Answer:
He did this to confuse the King about the reason for his eagerness to die instead of the disciple. He knew that the King was stupid and could be fooled into taking his own life.

Question 20.
What reason does the guru give for his eagerness to die?
Answer:
The guru said that if he was the first person to die at the new stake, he would be reborn as the next King of the kingdom.

Question 21.
Why did the King and the minister decide to take the place of the guru and the disciple?
Answer:
The King was not keen to lose his kingdom to someone else, even in the next life. Thus, he decided to die instead of the guru. He then made his minister agree to go along with him so he could continue to be his minister in the next life as well.

Question 22.
Why did the King and minister disguise themselves as the guru and disciple?
Answer:
They did this so that the executioner would mistake them for the condemned and kill them at the stake.

Question 23.
Why did the people of the kingdom panic at the sight of the bodies of the two executed men?
Answer:
They panicked because they realised that the two who had been executed were the King and the minister, and not the two who had been condemned to death.

Question 24.
Why did the people approach the guru and his disciple?
Answer:
The people realised that they needed a new King and a minister for the kingdom, and approached the guru and his disciple because they had proved to be smarter than the previous King.

Question 25.
On what conditions did the guru and disciple agree to rule the kingdom?
Answer:
They agreed to become the King and minister on the condition that they could change all the old laws. They also insisted that night would be night, day would be day, and one could no longer get everything for one duddu.

In the Kingdom of Fools Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Why did the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Was this a good idea? What does it reveal about his character?
Answer:
The disciple decided to stay in the kingdom because he was tempted by the fact that the place had good and cheap food, and he could eat his fill every day. This was not a good idea, because he grew So fat with all the food he ate that he almost lost his life when the King decided to put him on the stake because he was the right size for it. This shows that the disciple was immature and his greed had overcome his good sense. It also shows that he placed his body’s craving for food above his loyalty and obedience to his guru.

Question 2.
Name all the people who are tried in the King’s court, and give reasons for each of their trials.
Answer:
A large number of people are tried in the King’s court, starting with the rich merchant. It was his house that the thief tried to enter, but died when a wall collapsed on him. He was called for trial when the thief’s brother blamed him for the thief’s death.

The next person to be tried was the brick-layer, who had built the house. He was put on trial for having built such a weak wall that had collapsed. After that, a dancing girl was put on trial, because the brick-layer accused her of distracting him by walking up and down the street with her anklets jingling while he was building the wall. The girl, however, blamed the goldsmith for not having made her ornaments on time, which caused her to go up and down the street.

The goldsmith was then put on trial, but blamed a rich merchant for pressurising him to make ornaments, because of which he could not complete the dancing girl’s jewellery. This rich merchant turned out to be the father of the merchant whose house had been broken into.

Question 3.
Who is the real culprit according to the King? Why does he escape punishment?
Answer:
According to the King, the real culprit was the rich merchant’s father, who had ordered the goldsmith to make jewellery. However, since he was dead, his son would have to be punished in his place. He escaped punishment because when the stake for impaling the criminal was sharpened and ready, the minister felt that the merchant was somehow too thin to be properly executed on the stake. He appealed to the King, who agreed with this observation. They thus decided that they needed to find a man fat enough to fit the stake.

Question 4.
What were the guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?
Answer:
The guru’s wise words were: ‘This is a city of fools. You don’t know what they will do next.The disciple remembers these words when he is imprisoned just because he was fat enough to fit the stake which had been prepared as a punishment for a crime he had no knowledge about.

Question 5.
How did the guru manage to save his disciple’s life? What does it reveal about the King and his minister?
Answer:
The guru appeared at his disciple’s prayers, and took control of the situation. He asked the’king to put him in the stake before his disciple, because he was the guru and therefore greater than the disciple. The disciple jumped into the fray and started arguing that he should be put on the stake first. The king was puzzled by their behaviour and asked the guru why he wanted to die instead of his disciple. The guru refused to answer, and continued to ask that he be executed first. The King insisted on being told the reason, until at last the guru took him aside and told him that the stake was actually the stake of justice, and whoever died on it first would be reborn as the king of that country, and the next person to die on it would become the minister.

The king was troubled as he didn’t want to lose the kingdom even in the next life. Therefore, he postponed the execution and decided that he and his minister would take the place of the guru and the disciple. This shows how foolish and gullible the king and his minister were, and how easily they were fooled by the guru. It also shows the intelligence of the guru, who not only saved his disciple’s life, but also improved the lot of the kingdom.

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English