The Adventures of Toto by Ruskin Bond - Moments - Class IX - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary of "The Adventures of Toto"

Grandfather bought Toto, a mischievous little monkey, from a tonga-driver for five rupees and decided to add him to his private zoo. Toto, with his sparkling eyes and pearly white teeth, was both charming and troublesome. He caused considerable damage in the house, ripping off wallpaper and tearing up clothes. To keep him out of trouble, Grandfather placed Toto in a big cage with other pets but had to take him along to Saharanpur when he left to collect his pension. Toto's antics on the journey, especially his unexpected appearance from a bag, caused a scene at the railway station, leading the ticket collector to charge him as a dog. Despite Toto's endearing nature, his destructive behaviour led Grandfather to eventually return him to the tonga-driver.

Think About It (Q&A)

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

   • Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for five rupees because the monkey looked out of place tied to a feeding-trough.

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

   • Toto had bright eyes that sparkled with mischief, pearly white teeth often displayed in a smile, and a tail that added to his good looks and served as a third hand.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

   • Grandfather took Toto to Saharanpur because Toto wouldn't allow the other animals in the cage to sleep. He carried Toto in a black canvas kit-bag. The ticket collector called Toto a dog because of his classification of all animals as dogs for fare purposes, leading Grandfather to pay three rupees for Toto's fare.

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

   • Toto tested the water temperature with his hand and stepped into the bath gradually, just as he had seen the narrator do. He almost boiled himself alive by getting into a kettle left on the fire, thinking the water was just warm enough for a bath, until it started boiling and Grandmother rescued him.

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

   • Toto was too mischievous and destructive, causing frequent damage to clothes, curtains, and dishes, which the family couldn't afford to replace regularly.

 

The Lost Child by Mulk Raj Anand - Q&A Solved

Summary of the Story 'The Lost Child'

The story "The Lost Child" by Mulk Raj Anand depicts a young boy's experience at a village fair. Enthralled by the various attractions like toys, sweets, flowers, and balloons, the boy repeatedly lags behind his parents. Each time he asks for something, he anticipates his parents' refusal and moves on without waiting for their response. As the fair's excitement heightens, the boy suddenly realizes he has lost his parents. Overcome with fear and anxiety, he cries out for them and runs around in a frantic search. A kind man finds him and tries to comfort him by offering the very things he desired earlier. However, the boy now only wants his mother and father, having lost interest in everything else. The story ends with the boy still yearning for his parents, leaving readers with hope for their eventual reunion.

THINK ABOUT IT (Q&A)

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

   • The child sees toys, a mustard field, insects, flowers, doves, sweets, garlands, balloons, a snake-charmer, and a roundabout. He lags behind because he is fascinated and distracted by these sights.

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

   • The child wants burfi, a garland, balloons, and a roundabout ride. He moves on without waiting because he knows his parents will refuse, considering his desires greedy, the items cheap, or him too old.

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

   • He realizes he is lost when he cannot find his parents after asking for a roundabout ride. His anxiety is shown through his cries, tears, panicked running, and desperate calls for his mother and father.

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

   • The child loses interest in previous desires because his main concern becomes finding his parents. The need for safety and reunion with them outweighs his earlier wants.

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

• The story ends ambiguously, but the kind man comforts the child, suggesting he is in safe hands. It is hopeful that with the man's help, the child will eventually find his parents.

Additional Questions and Answers

1. What distracts the child while walking with his parents?

   • The child is distracted by toys, flowers, insects, sweets, garlands, balloons, a snake-charmer, and a roundabout.

2. How does the child react when his father refuses to buy him a toy?

   • The child moves on, knowing his father would refuse, but he remains eager and hopeful for other attractions.

3. What sights at the fair excite the child the most?

   • The child is most excited by the sweetmeats, garlands, balloons, and the roundabout ride.

4. How does the child feel when he realizes he is lost?

   • The child feels scared, anxious, and desperate, crying and searching frantically for his parents.

5. What does the kind man do to help the lost child?

   • The kind man tries to comfort the child by offering him a ride, showing him balloons, and offering sweets and flowers.

6. Why does the child refuse all the offers made by the kind man?

   • The child refuses all offers because his only concern is finding his parents; nothing else matters to him anymore.

7. What lesson does the story "The Lost Child" teach?

   • The story teaches the importance of parental love and security, showing that a child's greatest need is the presence and comfort of their parents.