9th Std the little girl

The little girl

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow in one or two lines each.

To the little girl he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss.

(a) Who does ‘he’ refer to in this extract?

Ans:He refers to the father of the little girl, Kezia.

(b) What were the feelings of the little girl towards him?

Ans:The little girl was afraid of him and tried to avoid him.

(c) What did ‘he’ do before going to work every morning?

Ans: Before going to work every morning, he came to the room of the little girl and casually kissed her.

(d) What does this gesture show about him?

Ans:This gesture shows that he loved her girl but was not very expressive in his affection.

(II)

She never stuttered with other people – had quite given it up – but only with Father, because then she was trying so hard to say the words properly.

(a) Who is ‘she’ in this extract?

 ‘Ans:She’ is Kezia, the little girl who was afraid of her father.

(b) What had she ‘quite given up’?

Ans:She had quite given up the occasional stuttering in front of other people.

(c) How did ‘she’ speak in the presence of her father?

Ans:In the presence of her father, Kezia stuttered while speaking and displayed lack of confidence.

 (d) Why did ‘she’ speak so differently before her father?

Ans:Being afraid of her father, Kezia hesitated to speak to him. Whenever she had to, she would stutter and sound different because her natural speech would be obstructed.

(III)

 He was so big – his hands and his neck, especially his mouth when he yawned. Thinking about him alone was like thinking about a giant.

(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above extract?

Ans: In this extract, ‘he’ refers to the father of Kezia, who was a veil strict disciplinarian.

(b) why does the speaker find him so big?

Ans:The speaker is his little daughter Kezia who was very scared of him. Hence she finds him so big – with big hands, neck and mouth.

(c) why does the speaker think of him as a giant?

 Ans:The speaker, Kezia, thought of him as a giant because to a small girl like her, his big body structure was as frightening as that of a giant of children’s stories.

(d) When did his mouth especially appear big?

Ans:His mouth especially appeared big when he opened it wide while yawning.

(IV)

“Mother, go up to her room and fetch down the damned thing – see that the child’s put to bed this instant.”

 (a) Who speaks these lines and to whom?

Ans: Kezia’s father speaks these lines to his mother.

 (b) What is the mood of the speaker in these lines?

Ans:The speaker, Kezia’s father, is in a very angry mood while speaking these lines because Kezia had torn his important speech to pieces.

 (c) What does the speaker refer to as the ‘damned thing’?

 Ans:The ‘damned thing’ referred to by the speaker, Kezia’s father, is the pin-cushion Kezia had made for him.

 (d) Who is the ‘child’ here? Why does the speaker wish the child to be put to bed immediately?

Ans:The ‘child’ here is Kezia. Her father, the speaker, wishes her to be put to bed immediately because he is furious at the damage caused by her. He does not want to lose his anger further due to her presence in front of him.

(V)

 “Here’s a clean hanky, darling. Blow your nose. Go to sleep, pet; you’ll forget all about it in the morning. I tried to explain to Father but he was too upset to listen tonight.”

(a) Who speaks these lines to whom and when?

Ans:The kind and affectionate Grandmother speaks these lines to a sobbing Kezia after she is hit on her little pink palms with a ruler by her father.

 (b) Why does the speaker offer a clean hanky?

Ans:Grandmother, the speaker, offers a clean hanky because Kezia had been crying after she was punished by her father for tearing his important papers. She needed a clean hanky to blow her nose.

(c) What did the speaker want the listener to forget? Why?

Ans:Grandmother, the speaker, wanted Kezia , the listener to forget all about the beating that she had got from her Father. She wanted her to forget it because the punishment was not given to hurt her but to make her understand that things belonging to others must not be touched.

(d) What did the speaker try to explain to Father?

Ans: Grandmother, the speaker, tried to explain to Father that Kezia was a ‘little girl and had not destroyed the papers intentionally. She was in fact trying to complete his surprise birthday gift.

(VI)

 “What’ll I do if I have a nightmare?” she asked. “I often have nightmares and then Gninnie takes me into her bed – I can’t stay in the dark – it all gets ‘whispery’…”

(a) Who is the speaker in these lines? Who is being addressed here?

Ans: In these lines, the speaker is Kezia, the little girl and she is addressing Alice, the cook.

 (b) What happens when the speaker has nightmares?

Ans:When Kezia has nightmares, she is comforted by her grandmother who takes the little girl into her bed.

(C)Why can’t the speaker stay in the dark?

 Ans:Kezia can’t stay in the dark because she is a little girl and the deep silence of darkness scares her.

(d)Where is Grannie right now?

 Ans:Kezia’s Grannie is at the hospital with Kezia’s mother who is unwell.

(VII)

“Oh,” said the little girl, “my head’s on your heart. I can hear it going. What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear.”

(a) Who is the little girl in these lines?

 Ans:The little girl in these lines is Kezia.

 (b) Where has she put her head? Why?

 Ans:Kezia has put her head on the big heart of her father. She has done so because she is free from her fears and nightmare and is happy to discover the tender and loving side of her otherwise strict daddy.

(c) What can the little girl hear?

Ans:Kezia can hear the heart beat of her father. Symbolically, it means that she can understand the true love that is buried deep in her father’s heart.

(d) How does the little girl feel at this time?

 Ans:Kezia feels happy and safe at this time. She does not think her father to be cruel, dominating, and giant-like. Instead she knows that he is actually a kind, loving, and considerate person with a big heart.

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences

Question 1: Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

Answer: Kezia’s father was a strict person, who always used to give commands to everybody else in the house. He never seemed to smile. He was having an overpowering personality. So Kezia was always in awe of him.

Question 2: Who were the people in Kezia’s family?

Answer: Apart from Kezia and her father, there was Kezia’s mother, grandmother and a cook in the family.

Question 3: What was Kezia’s father’s routine?
(i) before going to his office?
(ii) after coming back from his office?
(iii) on Sundays?

Answer: (i) Before going to office the father used to give a casual kiss and asked her to say goodbye.
(ii) After coming back from office he would ask for newspaper and a cup of tea.
(iii) On Sundays he would sleep on the sofa with his face covered with his favourite cushion.

Question 4: In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?

Answer: Kezia’s grandmother used to encourage Kezia to serve tea and to fetch spectacles for her father, so that she could get opportunity to interact with him.


Question 1: Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?

Answer: Kezia’s grandmother asked her to make some surprise gift for the father’s birthday. She wanted to make a nice pin cushion for her father. She wanted to stuff the cushion with some scraps. While searching for scrap she found some pieces of papers strewn on the bed. She used them to stuff the pin cushion.

But it was her sheer bad luck that those were not useless papers, but was speech written by her father. He had to deliver that speech at some important function. This made her father angry to the extent that he beat her up.

Question 2: Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father?

Answer: Mr. Macdonald was of jovial nature. He used to play around with his kids. On the other hand Kezia’s father was never seen in a playful mood and was always serious. He always scolded Kezia for seemingly minor mistakes. This was his way of bringing up a child.

Question 3: How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?

Answer: When Kezia’s mother falls sick she is feeling lonely. To take solace she goes to sleep in her father’s lap. While consoling her he seems to be an affectionate person. Kezia also feels the warmth of the proverbial bear hug of her father. Now she feels quite safe and secure with her father. She realizes that because of his busy schedule her father is unable to give enough time to the family. When her father falls asleep before her, she realizes that her father is also a human being and he too needs sympathy.

9th Std Adventures of Toto

Adventures of Toto

Question 1:
Why did the author’s grandfather decide to buy Toto ?

Grandfather was an animal lover and took pity on Toto as it was kept tied to a feeding trough. Toto looked out of place and grandfather decided to bring it to his private zoo. He was much impressed by Toto.

Question 2:
Why could not Toto and Nana become friends?

Toto was very naughty and wicked and could not stay still for a long time. Nana was a well behaved and docile animal. When they were together Toto bit on the long ears of Nana and Nana got annoyed with Toto. Thus, Nana and Toto could not become friends.

Question 3:
How does Toto become a problem to grandfather while going to Saharanpur?

While going to Saharanpur, Toto behaved well. When grandfather was producing his ticket, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag. He gave the ticket collector a wide grin. The ticket collector insisted that grandfather must buy the ticket for the pet. And proved to be a big problem for grandfather.

Question 4:
Where was Toto kept immediately after grandfather got him ? Why ?

Toto was kept in a closet. He was tied securely to a peg because his presence was to be kept a secret from the writer’s grandmother as she abhorred animals.

Question 5:
Who was Nana ? How did Toto tease Nana ?

Nana was the family donkey. Toto was kept in the stable with Nana, where Toto U9ed to tease Nana by fastbiting on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. Even Nana got fed up with Toto.

Question 6:
In what sense was Toto “a pretty monkey”.

Tito’s bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eye brows. His pearly white teeth often displayed a smile that had the innocence of a child yet there was an underlined tinge of naughtiness and mischievousness.

Question 7:
how did Toto’slove for taking bathe almost led to his being half – boiled ?

Toto used to love taking bathe in hot water. Once when a kettle was kept on fire with water to boil for tea, Toto sat in it. When the water began to boil, Toto tried getting up but found outside cold. So he again sat down. He kept on hopping outside and then again inside and after sometime he started enjoying this game.

Question 8:
Why did the grandfather give aw^y Toto, the monkey ?

Toto was very naughty and he troubled everyone. The other pets were not happy with him and he broke a lot of dishes, tore clothes, curtains and wall papers. He had become very difficult to handle and so grandfather gave Toto away.

Question 9:
Why did the grandfather hide Toto for some time when he brought him home?

Grandmother was not very fond of animals. When he used to bring a new artftnal or bird, she used to make a lot of fuss. To avoid this, grandfather hid Toto for some time and announced his arrival to her when she wps in a good mood.

Question 10:
Why did grandfather decide to take Toto along with him to Dehra Dun ?

Grandfather decided to take Toto along with him to Dehra Dim as there were many other pets also / that lived there. But Toto would not allow any of his companions to sleep at night. So, he made this decision.

Question 11:
Give-the names of Grandfather’s pets. Where did they live ?

The names of the Grandfather’s pets were Nana the donkey and Toto the monkey a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel and a goat. They lived in a big cage in the servant’s quarters.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1:
Write your views in the form of short paragraph on the topic “Should animals be kept as a pet”.
OR
While keeping pets at home, what all things should be kept in mind ?

Before bringing a pet in the house, we should remember that these animals can neither speak nor express as humans. As a pet owner we should know that there are a number of dangers that lurk in our households for these little creatures. We should always keep pesticides and medicines at a bay from the animals and children as they are a potential threat to them. The areas where pets might start fire inadverently such as kitchen or fire places or plugs should be covered, we should never have pets unattended around the open flames. Small electrical couds are also harmful for them hence they would be wounded and kept at distance. All the pots and oil bottles should be properly closed.

Question 2:
How can you say that Toto was a mischievous pet ?

Toto was indeed a very mischievous pet. He tore the wall papers of the rooms, and also tore the school blazer. He troubled other fellow animals. He even managed to get himself into trouble by nearly half boiling himself in a kettle. He made holes in dresses and curtains. Once he even scared the ticket checker. He even broke dishes in the houses. He proved to be a big troublemaker for everyone. Thus, we can say that Toto was a mischievous pet.

Question 3:
Describe the incident at Dehradun railway station after reading the story, The Adventures of Toto’.

Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur. So, he decided to put Toto in a big black canvas bag for the train journey. When they reached the station Toto started jumping on the platform and everyone was surprised to see a bag jumping and moving about. When the ticket collector came then Toto poked his head out of the bag. The ticket collector wanted grandfather to buy a ticket for him and grandfather did not want to. Finally the ticket collector had his way.

Question 4:
“Toto was not good enough to be kept at home.” Do you agree to this state-ment. Why/why not.

Yes, Toto was not good enough to be kept at home. He was upto some kind of mischief all the time. He tore the wall papers of the rooms, and also tore the school blazer. He troubled other fellow animals. He even managed to get himself into trouble by nearly boiling himself in a kettle. He made holes in dresses and curtains. Once he even scared the ticket checker also. He even broke dishes in the houses. Thus, it was not easy to keep him at home. ‘

Question 5:
“Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.” Explain giving examples from the text.

“Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.” because he was very mischievous. He scratched the plaster of the walls, tore the school blazer and qpnt’s dresses. He threw plates at grandmother and glasses of water at one of the aunt’s face. He used to break the dishes of pulav into pieces. And they could not afford the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper.

Question 6:
Grandfather was a great lover of animals. Describe.

Narrator’s grandfather had a great liking for animal. He had tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, a goat but no monkey. With the coming of Toto his mini Zoo was transformed into a real zoo. He had a variety of pet animals in that zoo. He frequently bought nany varieties of animals to keep them in his zoo. Due to this, he even faced tra anger of his wife at times and when he brought Toto he was very happy with his cleverness.

Question 7:
How does Toto take a bathe ? Where has he learnt to do this ?

Toto takes bathe in a tub’ of warm water. It puts its legs in the water one by one and applies soap as well. As monkeys are good at aping others, so Toto has learnt proper steps of bathing while watching the narrator doing the same. He wanted to take a bath and in order to do it, he sat in the boiling water of kettle also.

9th Std WIND

Wind

By Subramania Bharati


1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?

In the first stanza, the wind shutters breaks the shutters of the windows, scatters the papers, throws down the books from the shelf, tears the pages of the books and brings showers of rain.

2.What does the poet say the wind god winnows?

The poet says that the wind god winnows the weak crumbling houses, doors, rafters, wood, bodies, lives and hearts, and then crushes them all.

4. What should we do to make friends with the wind?

To make friends with wind we need to build strong homes with firm doors.We should also make ourselves physically and mentally strong by building strong, firm bodies and having steadfast hearts.


5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?

In the last four lines, the poet inspires us to face the wind, which symbolises the hardships of our lives, courageously. He tells us that the wind can only extinguish the weak fires; it intensifies the stronger ones. Similarly, adversities deter the weak-hearted but make stronger those who have unfaltering will. In such a case, befriending the wind or the hardships of life makes it easier for us to face them.

6. How does the poet speak to the wind — in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it like the poet’s?

Answer

The poet speaks to the wind with anger.

Yes, strong winds are known to cause plenty of damage and destruction to both life and property.

Storms, cyclones, gales and strong winds cause havoc on land. They uproot trees, bring down houses, tear down electric posts and claim lives.

They also cause damage to boats and frighten the poor sailors and fishermen out at sea.

Yet, I do not agree with the poet that the wind only 'crumbles lives'. The wind is responsible for bringing rain; it cools the land and makes the climate pleasant.

Today, wind energy is harnessed for several useful purposes including turning windmills, wind turbines and generating electricity.

7. How does a violent wind disturb and damage things?

Ans: A violent wind breaks the window shutters and scatters the papers. It also throws down the books on the shelf.

 8. What request does the poet make to the wind?

Ans:The poet requests the wind to blow gently and not to cause any damage or destruction.

9.Which poetic device has been used in these lines?

Ans:The poetic device used in these lines is ‘anaphora’ as the imperative ‘Don’t’ is repeated in three consecutive lines.

10.What effect does this device create?

Ans:The imperative repetition of the word ‘Don’t’ at the beginning of three consecutive lines expresses the poet’s strong urge to the wind to be gentle and kind. It also creates a unique rhythm in the poem.

9th std The Adventure of Toto

Q1. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees. The
tonga-driver used to keep the little red monkey tied to a feeding-trough, and the
monkey looked so out of place there that Grandfather decided he would add the
little fellow to his private zoo.
i. From whom did grandfather buy Toto?
Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver.
ii. How did the tonga-driver keep the little monkey?
The tonga-driver kept the little red monkey tied to a feeding-trough
and he looked very ill and ugly.
iii. Why did grandfather decide to buy Toto?
Grandfather was an animal lover and took pity on Toto as he was
kept tied to a feeding trough. Toto looked out of place, so
grandfather decided to bring him to his private zoo.
iv. Find the synonym for the word ‘trench’.
trough

(b) Grandmother always fussed when Grandfather brought home some new bird or
animal. So it was decided that Toto’s presence should be kept a secret from her
until she was in a particularly good mood. Grandfather and I put him away in a
little closet opening into my bedroom wall, where he was tied securely — or so
we thought — to a peg fastened into the wall.
i. When would grandmother make a fuss?
Grandmother would always make a fuss whenever grandfather
brought home some new bird or animal.
ii. Where was Toto kept immediately after grandfather got him?
Toto was kept in a closet, tied securely to a peg immediately after
grandfather got him.
iii. Why was Toto’s presence kept as a secret?
Toto’s presence was kept as a secret because grandmother
abhorred animals.
iv. Give synonym for the word ‘securely’
firmly

a) Toto was now transferred to a big cage in the servants’ quarters where a
number of Grandfather’s pets lived very sociably together — a tortoise, a pair of
rabbits, a tame squirrel and, for a while, my pet goat. But the monkey wouldn’t
allow any of his companions to sleep at night; so Grandfather, who had to leave
Dehra Dun next day to collect his pension in Saharanpur, decided to take him
along.
i. Where was Toto transferred?
Toto was transferred to a big cage in the servants’ quarters.
ii. Which other animals lived in the cage?
The other animals that lived in the cage were - a tortoise, a pair of
rabbits, a tame squirrel and, for a while, the narrator’s pet goat.
iii. Why did grandfather decide to take Toto along with him to Saharanpur?
Grandfather decided to take Toto along with him to Saharanpur as
Toto didn’t allow any of the other pets that lived in the servant’s
quarter to sleep at night.
iv. Find antonym for the word ‘deny ’.
allow

b) A big black canvas kit-bag was provided for Toto. This, with some straw at the
bottom, became his new abode. When the bag was closed, there was no
escape. Toto could not get his hands through the opening, and the canvas was
too strong for him to bite his way through. His efforts to get out only had the
effect of making the bag roll about on the floor or occasionally jump into the air
— an exhibition that attracted a curious crowd of onlookers on the Dehra Dun
railway platform.
i. What was Toto’s new abode?
A big black canvas bag was Toto’s new abode.
ii. Why couldn’t Toto escape from the bag?
Toto couldn’t get his hands through the opening, and the canvas
was too strong for him to bite his way through, so he couldn’t
escape from the bag.
iii. What was the effect of Toto’s effort in getting out?
Toto’s efforts to get out only had the effect of making the bag roll
about on the floor or occasionally jump into the air. It attracted a
curious crowd of onlookers on the Dehra Dun railway platform.
iv. Find antonym of the word ‘weak’.
strong

c) The poor man was taken aback; but, with great presence of mind and much to
Grandfather’s annoyance, he said, “Sir, you have a dog with you. You’ll have to
pay for it accordingly.” In vain did Grandfather take Toto out of the bag; in vain
did he try to prove that a monkey did not qualify as a dog, or even as a
quadruped. Toto was classified a dog by the ticket-collector; and three rupees
was the sum handed over as his fare.
i. What happened when grandfather was producing his ticket at the railway
turnstile?
When grandfather was producing his ticket at the railway turnstile,
Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag and gave the ticket
collector a wide grin. The ticket collector was shocked to see the
monkey in the bag.
ii. Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
There seemed no rule for fixing a monkey’s fare so the ticket
collector equated Toto with a dog. Ticket collector’s ingenuity tried
to categorize all pets of a certain size as dogs.
iii. How much fare was collected from grandfather for Toto?
Grandfather had to pay a sum of three rupees as Toto’s fare.
iv. Find the antonym for the word ‘absence’
presence

d) Grandfather gave Nana a slap across her haunches, and she jerked back,
dragging Toto with her. He had fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little
teeth. Toto and Nana never became friends.
i. Why did grandfather visit the stable?
Grandfather visited the stable to see whether Toto was comfortable
there.
i. Who was Nana?
Nana was the family donkey.
ii. Why could Toto and Nana not become friends?
Once Toto was kept in the stable with Nana. Toto irritated Nana as
he fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. Nana was
in great pain. She got annoyed with Toto. Thus, Nana and Toto
could not become friends.
iii. Find the antonym of the word ‘enemy’.
friend

e) When the water became cold, he would get out and run as quickly as he could
to the kitchen-fire in order to dry himself. If anyone laughed at him during this
performance, Toto’s feelings would be hurt and he would refuse to go on with
his bath. One day Toto nearly succeeded in boiling himself alive.
i. What was a treat for Toto during the cold winter evenings?
A great treat for Toto during cold winter evenings was the large
bowl of warm water given for his bath by grandmother.
ii. How would Toto test the temperature of water?
Toto would cunningly test the temperature with his hand, and then
gradually step into the bath, first one foot then the other until he
was into the water up to his neck.
iii. What would Toto do when the water became cold?
When the water became cold, Toto would get out and run as quickly
as he could to the kitchen-fire in order to dry himself.
iv. Find the antonym for the word ‘dead’.
alive

f) My grandmother screamed — and Toto threw a plate at her. One of my aunts
rushed forward — and received a glass of water in the face. When Grandfather
arrived, Toto picked up the dish of pullao and made his exit through a window.
We found him in the branches of the jackfruit tree, the dish still in his arms. He
remained there all afternoon, eating slowly through the rice, determined on
finishing every grain.
i. Why did grandmother scream?
Grandmother screamed as she saw Toto stuffing himself with
pullao rice.
ii. Explain: ‘ determined on finishing every grain’
In the above extract it means taking a firm decision of eating the
entire pullao.
iii. What did Toto do with the dish, once he had finished eating?
Toto threw the dish down from the jackfruit tree and chattered with
delight when it broke into a hundred pieces.
iv. Give antonym of the word ‘exit’
entrance

Q2. Answer the following in 30- 40 words.

1. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense was Toto pretty?
The definition of beauty can vary according to the subject. For an animal
the shining fur or long horns or mane add to the good looks. In case of
Toto, its bright mischievous eyes along with pearly white teeth and tail
enhanced its good looks. Monkeys are generally naughty, so the naughty
glint in Toto’s eyes were clearly telling about its nature. Teeth are used by
animals to show ferocity and Toto’s teeth did frighten others.

2. Give a character sketch of Toto.
Toto was a clever monkey and this was understood from the means he
devised to escape from the closet that grandfather put him in. He seemed
friendly initially; however, his naughty behaviour was evident soon. He
also seemed to be a very sensitive creature. He was very mischievous as
well as adventurous.

3. Describe the incident at Dehradun railway station from the story-‘The
Adventures of Toto’.
Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to collect his pension. So, he
decided to put Toto in a big black canvas bag and take him along for the
train journey. When they reached the platform, Toto started jumping and
everyone was surprised to see a bag jumping and moving about. When
the ticket collector came, Toto poked his head out of the bag. The ticket
collector was taken aback. The ticket collector wanted grandfather to buy
a ticket so with great presence of mind he classified Toto as a dog.
Grandfather tried explaining ticket collector but it went in vain. Finally
after much argument grandfather had to buy ticket and three rupees was
the sum handed over as his fare.

4. Grandfather was a great lover of animals. Cite examples from the text to justify.
Narrator’s grandfather had a great liking for animals. He frequently
bought many varieties of animals to keep them in his zoo. He had tortoise,
a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, a goat but no monkey. With the coming
of Toto his mini zoo was transformed into a real zoo. Due to this, he even
faced the wrath of his wife at times but when he brought Toto he was very
happy with his cleverness.

Q3. Answer the following in 100- 150 words.

1. “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.” Do you agree? Explain
giving examples from the text.
Yes, Toto was not good enough to be kept at home. He was up to some
kind of mischief all the time. He scratched the plaster of the wall, tore the
wall papers of the rooms, and also shredded the author’s school blazer.
He troubled other fellow animals. He scared the ticket collector by poking
his head out of a strong canvas at Dehradun railway station. He made
holes in dresses and curtains. He even managed to get himself into
trouble by nearly boiling himself in a kettle. He broke dishes in the
houses. He threw plates at grandmother and a glass of water at one of the
author’s aunt’s face. The author’s grandparents could not afford the
frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper.
Thus, it was not
easy for them to keep Toto at home. Hence the author says that, “Toto
was not the sort of pet we could keep for long."

2. Write your views in the form of short paragraph on the topic: ‘Should animals be
kept as a pets”
Humans and some animals can have a special relationship. Keeping a pet
adds to the quality of life for both the owner and the animal. The animal
receives shelter, is well fed and looked after. It is likely to live much
longer than similar wild animals, and will have better health.
However animals don’t really belong in a human home. We can’t properly
meet their needs in terms of exercise, diet and environment, so it is cruel
to keep them as pets. For example, dogs are animals that need
companionship, but they are often kept singly and left during the day.
Birds flock together and need to fly free – so it is incorrect to imprison
them in a cage.
It is true that the animals that we have as pets were wild at some point of
time. However, we must remember that these animals have been
domesticated after having been bred in captivity for generations. They
have lost their wild instincts and have adapted to live with human beings.
We must consider our decision of adopting wild animals as pets carefully,
as there is a great price attached, not only for the animals, but also to our
lives and the environment.

9th std WIND

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

(a) Wind, come softly
Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.
i. Write about any two destructive activities of the wind.
Two destructive activities of the winds are – (Any two)
(a) It breaks the shutters of windows
(b) It scatters the papers
(c) It throws down the books
ii. To whom does the poet make a request in the above lines?
The poet makes a request to the wind in the above lines.
iii. What appeal is made by the poet?
The poet makes an appeal to the wind not to break down the shutters of the
windows, not to scatter the papers in his room or to throw down the books from
his bookshelves.
iv. Find the antonym for the word ‘gather’
scatter

(b) There, look what you did – you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
i. What does the poet express through these lines?
The poet tells the wind, that it is the wind that is responsible for the mess in his
room.
ii. What effect does the wind have on the poet’s books?
The wind had thrown all the books down from the bookshelves with its force and
torn pages out of those books as well.
iii. The poet does not restrict his vision only to the inside of his house. Explain.
The poet gazes outside his window and accuses the wind of having brought a
bout of rainfall with it, while approaching his house.
iv. Give the antonym for the word ‘tore’.
mended

(c) You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,
crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,
crumbling hearts –
the wind god winnows and crushes them all.
i. Whom does the wind trouble? How?
The wind troubles the weaklings. It makes fun of anyone who is too meek and
mild to protest against its actions.
ii. Whom does the wind crumble down?
The wind crumble’s down houses, doors, rafters, wood, weak bodies, and fragile
hearts
iii. Why has the poet used the phrase ’winnows them all’?
The wind god separates the weak from the strong and crushes the weak, just as
the light chaff is separated from the grain during winnowing.
iv. Find the synonym for the word ‘weak’.
Frail

(d) He won’t do what you tell him,
So, come, let’s build strong homes.
Let’s joint the doors firmly.
Practice to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.
i. What does ‘he’ stand for?
‘He’ stands for the wind.
ii. What does the poet advise us?
The poet advises us to build strong homes, join the doors firmly, and to make our
body firm and strong.
iii. ‘He won’t do what you tell him”, what does the line mean?
It means that the wind does not follow our command.
iv. Find a word from the extract that means ‘loyal/faithful’.
steadfast

(e) The wind blows out weak fires
He makes strong fire roar and flourish
His friendship is good
We praise him everyday
i. How does the wind affect the weak fires?
The wind blows out the weak fires.
ii. What is the effect of the wind on strong fire?
The wind makes the strong fire even stronger and increases its power.
iii. How can we be friends with wind?
We can be friends with wind by making ourselves strong, both physically and
mentally.
iv. Find the synonym for the word ‘prosper’.
flourish

Q2. Answer the following in 30 - 40 words.

1. Describe the central idea of the poem.
The poem ‘Wind’ inspires us to face the challenges thrown at us with grit and firm
determination. We should be strong enough to face all the hardships of life with
courage. Wind symbolizes problems and obstacles that we all face and go
through at some point time in our lives.

2. Why is the wind regarded as a symbol of destruction in the poem?
In the poem, first stanza depicts the destruction caused by wind. The wind breaks
the shutters of the windows, tears the pages of the books, brings rain again, and
destroys the weaker section of the world. The strong or gusty winds represent
turmoil and trouble in our life.

3. The wind blows strongly and causes a lot of destruction. How can we make friends with
it?
Strong winds causes a lot of destruction and damage but its energy can be of
great use once we make friends with it. This can be done by taking proper
precautions and measures. For instance, we can build stronger homes, keep
ourselves strong in body and mind. We can also build windmills to harness its
energy that can be used to generate electricity.

4. Can wind ever be friend with us?
Wind, literally, can be our friend. Wind is a phenomenon which teaches us to be
strong. Our parents always teach us to be strong and determined. In difficult
times, wind wants us to bravely face our obstacles. Hence, we have to be strong
when there are obstacles in our life so that we don’t get beaten up by them.

Q3. Answer the following in 100 - 120 words.

1. What challenges are posed by wind in the life of the common man?
In our lives, wind disrupts our daily routine. It hampers and dampens the spirit of
life around. According to the poet, rain and wind were deeds of nature that are
perceived as the tempest forces which destroy the old and evil inside a man in
order to create joy and liberty in his mind. Wind is that natural phenomenon which
is very difficult to be predict accurately just as our problems which can arise from
nowhere. It can hit us at any time of our lives. For frail people, literally and
metaphorically, wind creates barriers. Winds does not let a frail body or a frail
mind survive but on the other hand if you are strong, you have the power and the
will to survive and fight back, wind can never be a threat to your living.

2. Does the poem reflect the human suffering being initiated by wind? Explain with
examples.
Wind is invisible, but the effects it has on this world are clear and evident. The
poem reflects upon both the constructive and destructive paths taken by the
wind. Wind is extreme and violent, but not necessarily legitimately with anger and
emotions. Wind creates compassion, but apathy at the same time in human life.
Wind emphasizes the passionate, intense nature of the poet, while the decay and
death inherent suggest the sacrifice and suffering of humans. We also see that
wind is a metaphor for the god’s will because its effects in this world can be both
beneficial and apparently destructive.

9th std The sound of music

Q1 Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

(a) They called her name and she didn’t move. I suddenly realized she hadn’t heard,”
says Isabel Glennie. For quite a while, Evelyn managed to conceal her growing
deafness from friends and teachers. But by the time she was eleven, her marks had
deteriorated and her headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist.
i. What made Isabel Glennie suspect Evelyn’s hearing ability?
When Evelyn was eight years old and her name was called to play the piano,
she did not respond. This made her mother suspect that something was wrong.
ii. Why did the headmistress advise Evelyn’s parents to consult a specialist?
The headmistress advised Evelyn’s parents to consult a specialist because by
the time she was eleven, her marks had deteriorated.
iii. What caused her deafness?
It was discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual
nerve damage.
iv. Find the antonym of the word ‘reveal’
conceal

(b) As for music, she explains, “It pours in through every part of my body. It tingles in the
skin, my cheekbones and even in my hair.”
i. How does Evelyn hear the sound of the Xylophone?
When Evelyn plays the piano, she can sense the sound passing up the stick
into her fingertips.
ii. Why does she remove her shoes on a wooden platform?
Evelyn removes her shoes on a wooden platform that vibrations pass through
her bare feet and up her legs.
iii. How is Evelyn able to understand what people speak?
Evelyn is able to understand what people speak not just by watching the lips
but also the whole face, especially the eyes.
iv. Give the synonym of the word ‘tingles’
pricks/ stings

(c) When he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious
sounds were produced. He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed.
i. Who is referred to as ‘he’? What was he playing?
A barber from a family of musicians who had access to the royal palace is
referred to as ‘he’. He was playing an improved version of the instrument
‘pungi’
ii. How did he make the instrument?
He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than
the pungi and mad seven holes on the body of the pipe.
iii. Why did he make the instrument?
The playing of the musical instrument ‘pungi’ had been banned by Emperor
Aurangazeb because it had a shrill unpleasant sound.
iv. Give the synonym of the word ‘melodious’
mellow, pleasant, lyrical

(d) And for this reason it is still played in temples and is an indispensable component of
any North Indian wedding. In the past, it was part of the naubat or traditional
ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts.
i. Which instrument is being referred to? What kind of instrument is it?
The instrument being referred to is the Shehnai. It is a wind instrument.
ii. Why is the instrument played in temples and North Indian weddings?
The sound of the shehnai began to be considered auspicious so it is still played
in temples and is an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding.
iii. What change did Ustad Bismillah Khan bring about in the instrument?
The credit for bringing the shehnai on to the classical stage goes to Ustad
Bismillah Khan.
iv. Find the antonym of the word ‘unnecessary’
indispensable

Q2 Answer the following in 30 to 40 words.
(a) What is Evelyn’s message for success?
Evelyn confesses that she is something of a workaholic. She has to work, often
harder than classical musicians but the rewards are enormous. According to
Evelyn, “If you work hard and know where you are going, you’ll get there.

(b) How does Evelyn speak and hear?
Evelyn speaks flawlessly with a Scottish lilt. Her speech is clear because she
could hear till she was eleven. She understands what people say not just by
watching the lips but also the whole face and eyes.


(c) When and how did Bismillah Khan get his first break?
With the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah
Khan’s big break. He soon became an often heard Shehnai player on radio.
Later on 15 August 1947 he was the first Indian to greet the nation when he
poured his heart out in playing the Raag Kafi at Red Fort.

(d) How was the ‘pungi’ improved and why was it named ‘shehnai’ ?
A barber of a family of professional musicians decided to improve the pungi .
He chose a pipe with a hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi .
He played the instrument before the royalty and everyone was impressed. Since
it was played by a barber . the instrument came to be named as ‘Shehnai’.

Q3 Answer the following in 100-120 words.

(a) How has Evelyn become a source of inspiration to those who are handicapped?
Evelyn has already accomplished more than most people twice her age. She
has brought percussion to the forefront of the orchestra and demonstrated that
it can be very moving. She has given inspiration to those who are handicapped.
They look at her and say-‘ If she can do it, I can’. In the words of Ann Richlin of
the Beethoven Fund for Deaf children-“She is a shining inspiration for deaf
children - they see that there is nowhere that they cannot go.”
Apart from regular concerts, Evelyn also gives free concerts in prisons and
hospitals. She gives high priority to classes for young musicians.

(b) How did Evelyn succeed in pursuing her interest in music?
When Evelyn was eleven year old, it was discovered that her hearing was
severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve damage . Her parents were
advised that she should be fitted with hearing aids and sent to a school for the
deaf. Everything looked black at that point but Evelyn did not give up. She was
determined to lead a life and pursue her interest in music.She wanted to play
the xylophone but was discouraged by her teachers. Percussionist Ron Forbes
spotted her potential and encouraged her not to listen through her ears. Evelyn
soon discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of the
body. She learnt to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations.She never
looked back from that point onwards.

(c) When did young Bismillah Khan develop an interest in Shehnai?
When Bismillah Khan was three, his mother took him to his maternal uncles’s
house . Bismillah was fascinated by watching his uncle practice the shehnai.
Soon , Bismillah Khan started accompanying his uncle, Ali Bux to the Vishnu
temple of Benaras where Ali Bux was employed to play the shehnai. Bismiallah
started getting lessons and practiced for hours in solitude on the banks of the
River Ganga. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and
invent raagas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the
shehnai.

(d) Why did Bismillah Khan consider Dumraon and Benaras as the most wonderful towns
of the world.?
Bismillah Khan had travelled all over the world and performed in many cities
and earned honours . He remained very fond of Dumraon and Benaras .He was
born in Dumraon and and grew up there playing the ‘gillidanda’ and singing in
temples.
At the age of three, Bismillah Khan was taken to his maternal uncle’s house . It
is there that he started getting lessons in playing the shehnai . He practiced on
the banks of the Ganga and the temples in Benaras. The flowing waters of the
Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent raagas that were earlier
considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai.
When astudent wanted him to head the Shehnai school in US and offered to
replicate Benaras , Bismillah Khan asked him if could get the Ganga there as well.

The Story of My Life ch 1-6

Answer the following question in 200 - 250 words.

(1) From ‘The Story of My Life’, describe the relation between Helen Keller and Martha
Washington.
In the book - The Story of My Life Helen provides insight into her struggles to
communicate. Before the arrival of her teacher, Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller
sought out the companionship of Martha Washington, the African American
child of the family cook.
Helen and Martha developed a system of signs to communicate during play
and Martha appeared to tolerate Helen’s eccentric behaviour.
Martha understood Helen and needed little explanation of what Helen may
want even recognizing when and where Helen wanted to go. She indulges
her, understands her signs, and allows her to dominate their games. The two
shared a great love for mischief which is probably one of the reasons why
Helen related so well to her.
They spent a great deal of time in the kitchen and the stables, doing a variety
of tasks. Hunting for the eggs of the guinea fowl in the long grass was one of
their greatest delights.
Martha’s relation with Helen indicates that she was intuitive, even at such a
young age, patient and understanding.
Martha lived with the Keller family until Helen moved to a larger house before
the birth of her sister, Mildred and the death of her father.

(2) Discuss the role of nature in Helen’s childhood. Why does Helen find the garden to
be a source of comfort?
Helen lived with her family in a house that was completely covered with vines,
climbing roses and honey suckles. It was the favourite haunt of the humming
birds. A few steps away from the homestead was a garden. It was the paradise
of Helen’s childhood.
In the days before Anne Sullivan came into her life, and Helen realized that
she was different from others .When she was neither able to understand what
two people were conversing nor communicate to others what she wanted due
to her handicap, it vexed her and at times she kicked and screamed until she
was exhausted.
She sought refuge in the garden. Helen used to occupy herself feeling along
the stiff boxwood hedges. She followed smell to find the violets and lilies. She
went to find comfort and hide her hot face in the cool leaves and grass. It gave
her joy to lose herself in the garden of flowers and wander happily from spot
to spot. When she came upon a beautiful vine, she recognized it by feeling its
leaves and blossoms.

(3) In what ways do Helen's intelligence and talent cause her frustration and rage?
Helen Keller was an active child full of curiosity about her surroundings. In the
first few months after her illness Helen Keller learned some kind of
communication with her mother. By the time she was five, she knew what was
going on about her.
She soon realized that that she was different from other people. They did not
use signs when they communicated, so when she tried communicating the
way they did without success, it frustrated and angered her.
She took refuge in the garden because she could not express herself.
Helen also tried mimicking her father’s actions as he read a newspaper, even
wearing his spectacles, thinking they might help solve the mystery but it only
added to her confusion.
Helen's intelligence and talent to learn by feeling allowed her to gain an
understanding of her surroundings. It also meant that she was more easily
frustrated.
The awareness that she was ‘different’ and that she could not communicate
effectively caused bouts of rage. Her intelligence did not seem to make any
difference in her attempts to communicate.
This led to frequent temper tantrums, sometimes hourly.
This was one of the motivations that drove her parents to seek help.

(4) ‘During the whole trip I did not have one fit of temper.’ Explain with reference to the
novel - ‘The Story of my Life’.
When Helen was about six years old, her father heard of an eminent oculist in
Baltimore who had been successful in many cases that had seemed hopeless.
They travelled by train and Helen describes the journey as pleasant. She made
friends with many people on the train. A lady gave her a box of shells, her
father made holes in them and stringing them kept her busy and contented.
She went round with the conductor, clinging to his coat tails. He let her play
with his ticket punch and she amused herself for hours making funny holes in
bits of cardboard.
Her aunt made her a doll out of towels with no nose, mouth ears or eyes. The
absence of eyes struck her as being the most conspicuous defect with the
doll. Others were unable to provide the solution until Helen herself thought of
the beads on her aunt’s cape as eyes for the doll.
She had so many things to do during the journey to keep her mind and fingers
busy hence she did not lose her temper even once.

(5)In ‘The Story of My Life’ by Helen Keller, what kind of ‘peculiar sympathy’ did Miss
Sullivan have with Helen's ‘pleasures and desires’?
In The Story of My Life, Helen Keller's autobiography of the first twenty-two years
of her life, Helen reveals the special relationship she has with Annie Sullivan.
Helen remembers the day she met Anne as ‘the most important day in all my life’
and she is well aware of Anne's contribution to her own development. Anne is only
partially sighted herself and has had her own difficult childhood which allows her
to understand Helen's many frustrations. Anne could relate to Helen like no-one
else could.
It is this unsaid understanding or ‘peculiar sympathy’ which Helen refers to that
allows Anne to help Helen achieve what she couldn’t otherwise. Helen admits that,
because of Anne, she learns ‘from life itself’. She cannot explain it herself but
does acknowledge Anne's long association with the blind. She also recognizes
Anne's wonderful faculty for description and the fact that she does not deliberate
on previous day's lessons. Helen appreciates her style and the way Anne
introduced dry technicalities of science little by little, all of which ensure that
Helen cannot help remembering what she taught.

(6) How can you say that Helen read and studied out of doors?
Usually students read and study in their classrooms, but for Helen Keller whole
nature was her classroom. Most of her learning took place out of doors. This way
she learnt more about the world around her. She was close to the nature.
Generally, students read with books but Helen Keller read by using her sense of
smell and touch. In a way, nature became her teacher, guide and philosopher. She
learnt from nature that everything has beauty of its own.
Miss Sullivan provided her practical knowledge of everything and taught her all
the subjects . Helen learnt geography, arithmetic, zoology and botany-all in a
leisurely manner. Arithmetic seemed a disinteresting subject to Helen. In science,
she was taught the growth of a plant in its actual form. She enjoyed her lessons as
she learnt them from life itself. But it was all because of her teacher who taught
her in a manner that everything around her breathed of love, joy and was full of
meaning. Helen read Geography by raised maps in clay. She touched and felt the
opening up of a plant. The study of tadpole made her understand that for creatures
their natural habitats are indispensable. So Helen learnt from life itself and in this
learning her teacher played an exemplary role. It was she who made her education
appear like a game. Helen learnt more out of doors and nature herself unfolded the
book of life for her.

(7)Helen learnt a new lesson that “Nature wages open war against her children and under
softest touch hides treacherous claws”. How?
The benevolent aspect of nature thrilled Helen. The whole nature was her
classroom. Most of her learning took place out of doors. This way she learnt more
about the world around her.
But soon she learnt that nature could be ferocious also. Once Helen along with
Miss Sullivan, were returning from a walk. The weather grew warm and humid.
They stood under the cool shade of a tree. With her teacher’s help Helen sat
amidst the branches. Miss Sullivan proposed that they have their lunch there.
Miss Sullivan went to fetch lunch leaving Helen all alone. Suddenly, the weather
changed and a thunderstorm was imminent. Helen felt paralysed and frightened
and she wanted to climb down from the tree. She clung to the branch with all her
might as the tree swayed and strained. The branches lashed about her. She felt as
if she would fall and at that very moment Miss Sullivan came and helped her down.
Helen had learnt a new lesson that “Nature wages open war against her children
and under softest touch hides treacherous claws”. She learnt a great lesson that
life is not always pleasant and one should be prepared for the risks and stakes
also.

(8) How did Helen learn to read? Describe Helen’s long process of learning?
Learning to read was an important step in Helen’s education. Miss Sullivan gave
her slips of cardboard on which raised letters were printed words. Helen learnt
that each printed word stood for an object, an act or a quality. She learnt to use
these words in making short sentences. One day she pinned the word ‘girl’ on her
pinafore and stood in the wardrobe. On it, she arranged the words ‘is in wardrobe’.
Miss Sullivan and Helen played this game for hours together. From the printed
slips Helen moved to the printed book ‘Reader for Beginners’ and hunted for the
words she knew. Gradually, she began to read. Once she brought some flowers for
her teacher. Miss Sullivan spelled into her hand, ‘I love Helen’. Helen asked “what
is love?” Initially, she failed to understand. One day as she was trying to string
beads of different sizes in symmetrical groups, she made many mistakes.
Unknowingly she tried to think how she could arrange them. Miss Sullivan
touched her forehead and spelled, ‘Think’. In a flash she learnt that the word was
the name of the feeling that was going on in her head. Thus, she learnt about an
abstract idea.

(9) How did Helen learn subjects like Geography, History and Science?
Helen had a different way of learning subjects like Geography, History, Science.
She walked down with Miss Sullivan to an old tumble-down lumber wharf on the
Tennessee River which was used during the Civil War to land soldiers. She built
dams of pebbles, made islands and lakes, dug river-beds, never realising that she
was learning a lesson. She listened to Miss Sullivan’s descriptions of burning
mountains, buried cities, moving rivers of ice, etc. She made raised maps on clay
so that she could feel the mountain ridges and valley and follow the course of river
with her fingers. She learnt Arithmetic by stringing beads in groups and by
arranging kindergarten straws she learned to add and subtract. She studied
Zoology and Botany also in a leisurely manner. She listened carefully to the
description of terrible beasts which tramped the forests and died in the swamps of
an unknown age. She learnt about the growth of a plant by planting a lily in her
balcony.

(10) How did Anne Sullivan make Helen understand the meaning of word ‘Love’?
Miss Sullivan was a great teacher for Helen. One day, when Helen brought violets
for her teacher. She gently put her arm around Helen and spelled on her hand that
she loved Helen. When Helen asked what love is, Miss Sullivan drew her closer
and pointed towards her heart and told her that love is here. Helen felt the beat of
heart but couldn’t understand the meaning of love. She was disappointed that her
teacher couldn’t show her the love.
Once, Helen was arranging beads in symmetrical pattern but found it difficult. Miss
Sullivan touched her forehead and spelled ‘think’. Helen quickly understood that
the word was the name of process that was going on in her head.
This was her first conscious perception of an abstract idea.
Miss Sullivan explained her that love is like the clouds that we cannot touch. But
when it rains, flowers and the thirsty earth feel glad to have it. We cannot touch
love but can feel the sweetness that it pours into everything. Without love no one

can be happy. This made Helen understand the meaning of love.

Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger

Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger

Q1 Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Mrs Packletide had already arranged in her mind the lunch she would give at her
house in Curzon Street, ostensibly in Loona Bimberton’s honour, with the tiger-skin
rug occupying most of the foreground and all of the conversation.’

i. Why was Loona Bimberton being ‘honoured’ by Mrs. Packletide?
Loona Bimberton had travelled eleven miles in an airplane flown by an Algerian
aviator.
ii. What was Mrs. Packletide’s real intention in hosting the lunch?
Mrs. Packletide wanted to show off her exploits at the tiger hunt and make
Loona Bimberton jealous of her achievements when she came over for lunch.
iii. What governed Mrs. Packletide’s movements and motives?
Mrs. Packletide’s movements and motives were largely governed by her dislike
of Loona Bimberton.
iv. Find the synonym of the word ‘supposedly’
ostensibly

(b) Mothers carrying their babies home through the jungle after the day’s work in the
fields hushed their singing lest they might curtail the restful sleep of the venerable
herd robber.’

i. What does the phrase ‘venerable herd robber’ refer to? What literary device is used
her?
The term refers to the tiger that Mrs. Packletide planned to hunt down.
ii. Why do the mothers hush their babies’ singing?
The mothers hush their babies’ singing so that the sound may not wake up the
tiger that might be sleeping around.
iii What does the writer want to highlight in these lines?
The writer wants to highlight the ridiculous lengths to which the villagers were
ready to go to ensure that the tiger stayed in and around the village till the hunt.
iv. Give the synonym of the word ‘curtail’
lengthen/ increase

(c) ‘...the villagers anxious for their thousand rupees gladly connived at the fiction that
she had shot the beast.’

i. Who had offered the villagers thousand rupees and ‘why’?
Mrs. Packletide had offered a thousand rupees for the opportunity of shooting a
tiger without over- much risk or exertion.
ii What is the ‘fiction’ being referred to in these lines?
The fiction refers to Mrs. Packletide shooting the tiger.
iii What was the truth?
The truth was that the tiger had died of a heart attack and had not been shot by
Mrs Packeltide.
iv Find the antonym of the word ‘unconcerned’
anxious

(d) With an accurately sighted rifle and a thumbnail pack of patience cards, the
sportswoman awaited the coming of the quarry.'

i Who is the sportswoman and what is her quarry?
The Sportswoman is Mrs. Packletide, and her quarry is the tiger whom she
wanted to shoot.
ii. Who was the companion of the sportswoman?
Louisa Mebbin was Mrs. Packletide’s paid companion.
iii What does the mention of the cards tell us about the nature of the activity being
undertaken by the woman?
Mrs. Packletide is taking the hunt in a very light hearted manner after ensuring
that it was free from any risk.
iv Give the antonym of the word ‘accurately’
precisely/ correctly

Q2 Answer the following in 30 to 40 words.

(a) What arrangements were made for Mrs. Packletide’s tiger hunt?
An old tiger was found who had taken to hunting small domestic animals. A
safe platform was made on a tree, a goat with a particularly persistent bleating
was tethered to a tree, an accurately sighted rifle was placed on the platform for
her and also small size pack of cards to pass the time.

(b) Who was Miss Mebbin? Do you think she was devoted to Mrs. Packletide? Give
reasons for your answer.
Miss Mebbin was Mrs. Packletide’s paid companion.
No, she was not sincere towards Mrs. Packletide because she did not want to
perform an atom more service than she was paid for.
She threatened to disclose the facts of the hunt if she was not paid the money
that would enable her to buy a cottage for herself.

(c) How did Miss Mebbin manage to get her cottage?
It was Miss Mebbin who drew attention to the fact that Mrs. Packletide had shot
the goat and not the tiger, who actually died of heart failure.
She threatened to reveal the facts about the hunt to Loona Bimberton unless
Mrs. Packletide paid her the required amount to buy herself a cottage. Mrs
Packletide had no choice but to give in to her demand. She did not want to lose
face in front of her rival.

(d) Who is Nimrod and why is his reference made in the story?
Nimrod is a biblical character, great-grandson of Noah who was a mighty
hunter. The reference to his character is made here because Mrs. Packletide too
wanted to follow him. She had plans of hunting a tiger.

(e) What made Mrs. Packletide decide to give a party in Loona Bimberton's honour?
What did she intend to give Loona on her birthday?
Mrs. Packletide wanted to give an impression that the party would be in Loona
Bimberton’s honour. In reality, she wanted to make a statement of style and her achievements at tiger hunting. She intended to gift a tiger-claw brooch to Loona
on her birthday.

(f) “It was Mrs. Packletide’s pleasure and intention that she should shoot a tiger.”
Why was Mrs. Packletide intent on shooting a tiger?
Mrs. Packletide did not nurse any lust or craze to shoot a tiger. She only
intention was to hunt a tiger because she disliked Loona Bimberton who had
captured the limelight by flying eleven miles in an aeroplane by an Algerian
elevator. Her motive was to somehow shift the limelight from Loona to herself.
Therefore, she planned to do something as daring, and shooting a tiger
appeared to be something very sensational.

Q3 Answer the following in 100-120 words.

(a) State instances of humour in ‘Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger’.
Mrs. Packletide decides to kill a tiger but pays one thousand rupees to the
villagers to find a tiger that was old so that she would not have to work hard on
the hunt. Secondly, when she fires a shot, the bullet, instead of hitting the tiger,
hits the goat. It was her good luck that the tiger died of a heart attack.

(b) How did the villagers help Mrs Packletide with the tiger hunt?
The villagers were motivated by the prospect of earning a thousand rupees and
hence many of them quickly engaged into various support activities. An old
tiger who had taken to hunting domestic animals was identified. Children were
given the duty on the outskirts of the local jungle who herd it back in case it
attempted to roam away. After a day’s work, Women hushed their singing when
returning so as not to disturb the tiger. A goat with persistent was arranged to
be used as bait for the tiger. A platform was made at a suitable place. An
accurately sighted rifle and a pack of cards was also arranged.

(c) Mrs. Packletide’s desire to outshine Loona Bimberton became a constant trouble to
her. Explain.
In her pursuit to outshine Loona Bimberton, Mrs. Packletide decided to hunt a
tiger. She wanted to prove that she was more adventurous. However, having a
poor aim, she shot the goat kept as bait and the lion died of a heart attack.
Although Mrs. Packletide achieved what she desired for, it came with a price.
She had to buy an expensive cottage for Miss Mebbin who threatened to expose
her secret to Loona Bimberton. Thus her desire to get fame became a constant
trouble for her as it was obvious that Miss Mebbin could blackmail her
whenever she wanted to.

(d) “Mrs. Packletide was reasonably annoyed at the discovery.” What led her to be
annoyed?
Miss. Louisa Mebbin’s observation led to the discovery that it was the goat that
died of the bullet of Mrs. Packletide’s rifle, and that the tiger was killed of heart
failure caused due to the banging noise of the rifle. This annoyed Mrs.
Packletide as the mortal wound was visible on the goat’s body but no wound
was visible on the tiger’s body.

(e) What was Loona Bimberton’s reaction at Mrs. Packletide’s instant fame?
Loona Bimberton instantly became so spiteful that she refused to see any
illustrated paper for many weeks as she did not want to read anything related to Mrs. Packletide. Repressing her emotions to some extent she sends a letter of
thanks to Mrs. Packletide for sending her a tiger-claw brooch on her birthday.
She declined to attend the party hosted in her favour.

(f) How does Saki expose human greed and vanity in the story ‘Mrs. Packletides Tiger’?
Saki exposes the human exploitation of big-game animals as a brutal act of
violence. Loona Bimberton and Mrs. Packletide, the trophy-hunters, are
examples of human folly and greed in an age when destroying wild animals was
justified as an emblem of progress. Miss Bimberton has recently travelled in an
aero plane, piloted by an Algerian aviator. As a result, she has become the toast
of British occupied India. Mrs. Packletide's motive in killing the tiger is to rival
Loona Bimberton .Her fame reached the pages of the newspapers but it came
with a heavy price and fear of constant threat from Miss Mebbin.