CBSE Class 9 English — Moments Exercise Solutions
Key Chapters Quick Recap
| Chapter | Author | Key Theme |
|---|
| The Lost Child | Mulk Raj Anand | Parental love; child's distraction; fear of being lost |
| Adventures of Toto | Ruskin Bond | Pets and their mischief; gentle humour |
| Iswaran the Storyteller | R.K. Laxman | Power of storytelling; imagination |
| In the Kingdom of Fools | A.K. Ramanujan | Foolish rules; injustice; survival through wit |
| The Happy Prince | Oscar Wilde | Selfless sacrifice; true beauty is inner |
| The Last Leaf | O. Henry | Hope; art and life; sacrificing for another |
I. Choose the Best Answer (MCQs)
1. In 'The Lost Child', the child is separated from his parents at: (a) A school fair (b) A spring fair/festival in the fields (c) A shopping market (d) A railway station
Answer(b) A spring fair/festival in the fields Mulk Raj Anand's story: a child is entranced by things at the spring fair — toys, sweets, garlands, roundabout. He keeps pulling his parents but they say "come away." When he finally reaches the roundabout and turns to ask permission — his parents are gone. He is surrounded by strangers; all he wants now is his parents (not the toys or sweets). Theme: parental love is the greatest security.
2. In 'Adventures of Toto', Toto was: (a) A dog (b) A small red monkey purchased from a tonga-driver (c) A parrot (d) A mongoose
Answer(b) A small red monkey purchased from a tonga-driver Ruskin Bond: the narrator's grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver. Toto was a small red monkey with mischievous eyes and nimble fingers. He tore things, soaked in warm water baths, ate from the family table, and was eventually sold back because the family couldn't afford to keep him.
3. Iswaran (the storyteller) worked as: (a) A teacher (b) A cook for a junior supervisor named Mahendra (c) A driver (d) A security guard
Answer(b) A cook for a junior supervisor named Mahendra R.K. Laxman's story: Iswaran was Mahendra's cook and factotum. He could conjure a meal from nothing and tell extraordinary stories, embellishing everything with suspense and drama (Tamil film-style narration). He claimed to see a ghost of a woman — which terrified Mahendra into quitting his job.
4. In 'In the Kingdom of Fools', the two fools were: (a) The king and the minister who reversed night and day (b) Two peasants (c) A teacher and student (d) Brothers
Answer(a) The king and the minister who reversed night and day A.K. Ramanujan's folk tale: in a Kingdom of Fools, the king and minister ordered that people sleep in the day and be awake at night. A guru and disciple visit — disciple stays, gets good cheap food. Eventually a thief is accused of a crime — chain of blame passes through many — finally reaches the merchant whose old ancestor built the faulty wall. Only solution: find a fat person to be executed (so the stake goes in easily). The disciple has grown fat — he is blamed. Guru saves him by using wit.
5. The Happy Prince's statue was made of: (a) Iron (b) Marble (c) Gold leaf covering with sapphire eyes and a ruby sword (d) Bronze
Answer(c) Gold leaf covering with sapphire eyes and a ruby sword Oscar Wilde: the Prince's statue stood on a tall column; covered in thin leaves of fine gold; sapphire eyes; ruby on the sword hilt. He asked the Swallow to give these to the poor. When stripped of gold and jewels, he looked "shabby" and was pulled down — but God valued his lead heart and the dead swallow most.
6. In 'The Last Leaf' (O. Henry), Behrman painted the last leaf because: (a) He wanted to sell the painting (b) He wanted to prevent Johnsy from dying — she believed she would die when the last leaf fell (c) He was bored (d) Someone paid him to do it
Answer(b) He wanted to prevent Johnsy from dying — she believed she would die when the last leaf fell O. Henry: Johnsy is dying of pneumonia. She watches ivy leaves outside her window and believes she will die when the last one falls. Old Behrman (a failed artist) secretly paints a leaf on the wall on a stormy night. The painted leaf never falls. Johnsy recovers her will to live. Behrman dies of pneumonia caught painting in the cold. The "last leaf" = his masterpiece. Theme: selfless sacrifice; the power of hope.
7. What does the story 'Adventures of Toto' primarily reveal about Ruskin Bond's grandfather? (a) He was strict and disliked animals (b) He was an animal lover who had a private zoo and was amused by Toto's antics (c) He wanted to sell Toto for profit (d) He was afraid of monkeys
Answer(b) He was an animal lover who had a private zoo and was amused by Toto's antics Bond's grandfather had a private zoo at home. He was delighted with Toto, hid him in a bag when travelling (Toto escaped and created chaos), and was amused rather than angry when Toto caused mischief. Ultimately, the family had to sell Toto back because of the expense.
II. Short Answer Questions
Q1. How does Iswaran narrate stories? What effect does it have on Mahendra?
Answer
Iswaran's storytelling style:
- Uses suspense: builds up gradually, pauses at crucial moments.
- Dramatises: acts out scenes; uses vivid descriptions, raised voice, dramatic gestures.
- Tamil film style: adds masala, exaggerated emotion, supernatural elements.
- Storytelling hierarchy: follows the style of Tamil horror and drama films.
Effect on Mahendra: he is thoroughly entertained each evening. But when Iswaran narrates a ghost story about a woman with dishevelled hair (whom he later claims to see), Mahendra is terrified. He begins having nightmares. Despite being rational, he becomes afraid of the dark. Eventually he quits his job and leaves the haunted site.
Q2. What is the central message of 'The Lost Child'?
Answer
'The Lost Child' (Mulk Raj Anand): when the child is separated from his parents, a kind stranger offers him everything the child wanted earlier — toys, sweets, garland, swings. But the child refuses everything, crying only for his parents.
Central messages: 1. Parental love is irreplaceable: No material pleasure can substitute for the security of a parent's presence. 2. Children are distracted but ultimately attached: The child pulled away from toys when parents were near, but their absence shows how deeply they are needed. 3. Innocence and vulnerability: Young children need protection; in a crowd, the loss of parents is terrifying.
Exam Checklist
- The Lost Child: Mulk Raj Anand; spring fair; child separated; all toys refused when parents are gone.
- Adventures of Toto: Ruskin Bond; mischievous monkey; grandfather's zoo.
- Iswaran: R.K. Laxman; cook-storyteller; Tamil film style narration; ghost story.
- Kingdom of Fools: A.K. Ramanujan; king + minister reversed day/night; guru saves disciple.
- The Happy Prince: Oscar Wilde; golden statue gives riches to poor; swallow dies; lead heart.
- The Last Leaf: O. Henry; Behrman paints last leaf; dies of pneumonia; Johnsy survives.
