Summary of The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson
Thinking About the Text (Q&A)
I. Given in the box are some headings. Find the relevant paragraphs in the text to match the headings.
An Orphaned Cub; Bruno’s Food-chart; An Accidental Case of Poisoning; Playful Baba; Pain of Separation; Joy of Reunion; A Request to the Zoo; An Island in the Courtyard
Answer:
- An Orphaned Cub – Paragraph 3: The baby bear was found after its mother was shot.
- Bruno’s Food-chart – Paragraph 6: Describes all the food Bruno ate.
- An Accidental Case of Poisoning – Paragraphs 8-10: Bruno accidentally ate poison and was treated.
- Playful Baba – Paragraph 12: Bruno, now called Baba, was playful and loved tricks.
- Pain of Separation – Paragraph 14: The family missed Bruno when he was sent to the zoo.
- Joy of Reunion – Paragraph 16: Bruno recognized his owner and was overjoyed during their visit.
- A Request to the Zoo – Paragraph 18: The narrator’s wife asked the zoo to return Bruno.
- An Island in the Courtyard – Paragraph 21: The family built an island for Bruno to stay after his return.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. “I got him for her by accident.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Who do ‘him’ and ‘her’ refer to?
(iii) What is the incident referred to here?
Answer:
(i) The narrator says this.
(ii) 'Him' refers to the bear Bruno, and 'her' refers to the narrator’s wife.
(iii) The narrator found a baby bear when its mother was shot, and he brought it home for his wife.
2. “He stood on his head in delight.”
(i) Who does ‘he’ refer to?
(ii) Why was he delighted?
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ refers to Bruno (Baba), the bear.
(ii) He was delighted because he recognized his owner, the narrator’s wife, during her visit to the zoo.
3. “We all missed him greatly: but in a sense we were relieved.”
(i) Who does ‘we all’ stand for?
(ii) Who did they miss?
(iii) Why did they nevertheless feel relieved?
Answer:
(i) ‘We all’ refers to the narrator and his family.
(ii) They missed Bruno, their pet bear.
(iii) They were relieved because Bruno had grown too large and difficult to keep at home safely.
III. Answer the following questions in 30 to 40 words each.
1. On two occasions Bruno ate/drank something that should not be eaten/drunk. What happened to him on these occasions?
Answer:
Bruno once ate barium carbonate poison, which caused paralysis, but he was saved by a vet’s injections. Another time, he drank engine oil, but it had no harmful effect on him.
2. Was Bruno a loving and playful pet? Why, then, did he have to be sent away?
Answer:
Yes, Bruno was very loving and playful, but he grew too big and mischievous, making it hard to manage him at home. That’s why he was sent to the zoo.
3. How was the problem of what to do with Bruno finally solved?
Answer:
Bruno was brought back from the zoo after the narrator’s wife requested his return. They built a special island in their compound where Bruno could live happily and safely.
Thinking about Language
I.1. Find these words in the lesson. They all have ie or ei in them.
- field
- ingredients
- height
- mischievous
- friends
- eighty-seven
- relieved
- piece
I.2. Now, here are some more words. Complete them with ei or ie. Consult a dictionary if necessary.
- believe
- receive
- weird
- leisure
- seize
- weight
- reign
- feign
- grief
- pierce
(According to the rule “i before e except after c,” words like “receive,” “weird,” and “seize” follow this exception, while words like “believe” follow the rule.)
II. Here are some words with silent letters. Learn their spelling. Your teacher will dictate these words to you. Write them down and underline the silent letters.
- knock
- knee
- hours
- could
- wrestle
- half
- return
- sign
- walk
- honest
- hornet
- island
- wrong
- daughter
- calm
- button
2. Adverbs
Find the adverbs in the passage below.We thought that everything was over when suddenly a black sloth bear came out panting in the hot sun. Now I will not shoot a sloth-bear wantonly but, unfortunately for the poor beast, one of my companions did not feel that way about it, and promptly shot the bear on the spot.
Adverbs in the passage:
- suddenly
- wantonly
- unfortunately
- promptly
(i) Complete the following sentences, using a suitable adverb ending in -ly.
(a) Rana does her homework carefully.
(b) It rains heavily in Mumbai in June.
(c) He does his work diligently.
(d) The dog serves his master faithfully.
(ii) Choose the most suitable adverbs or adverbial phrases and complete the following sentences.
(a) We should never get down from a moving train.
(b) I was badly in need of support after my poor performance.
(c) Rita met with an accident. The doctor examined her immediately.
3. Take down the following scrambled version of a story, that your teacher will dictate to you, with appropriate punctuation marks. Then, read the scrambled story carefully and try to rewrite it rearranging the incidents.
ANSWER:
It was a cold winter’s day, and an ant was bringing out some grains of corn from her home. She had gathered the corn in summer and now wanted to dry them. A grasshopper, who was very hungry, saw her and said, “When did you get the corn? I am dying of hunger.”
“I collected it in summer,” said the ant. “What were you doing in summer? Why did you not store some corn?”
The grasshopper replied, “I was too busy.”
“What were you doing?” asked the ant again.
“I was singing all day,” answered the grasshopper.
“If you sang all summer,” said the ant, “you can dance all winter.”
Speaking:
‘Animals also feel the pleasure of love and the pain of separation.’
From my own experience, I can clearly say that animals do feel love and separation just like humans. I had a dog named Rocky, and he was very attached to our family. Every time we left the house, even for a short while, he would wait by the door and look sad. But when we returned, he would show immense joy by wagging his tail and jumping around. It’s clear that Rocky experienced both the sadness of separation and the happiness of reunion. Once, when we had to leave him with a friend for a few days, he refused to eat and just kept looking for us. This shows how deeply animals feel emotions, and how strong their bond with humans can be.
Writing:
Pets have unique care and handling requirements and should only be kept by those with the commitment to understand and meet their needs.
Argument in Support:
Pets are not just animals; they are living beings who require attention, love, and care. Each pet, whether a dog, cat, bird, or fish, has its specific needs. A dog, for example, needs regular walks, exercise, grooming, and a balanced diet. Cats need litter training and mental stimulation. Birds require spacious cages and proper nutrition. Ignoring these needs can lead to behavioral problems or health issues for the pet. Owning a pet is a long-term commitment, often lasting many years. Without a proper understanding of their requirements, it becomes unfair and even harmful to the animal. Only those who are ready to take on this responsibility should keep pets to ensure their well-being.
Argument for Snake Charmers Continuing Their Profession:
Snake charming is a tradition that has existed for centuries in India. While the Wildlife Protection Act has banned the catching of snakes, snake charmers possess a unique skill and knowledge of handling these creatures, which can be used in positive ways. Snake charmers can contribute by helping local farmers remove snakes from their fields, preventing harm to both humans and snakes. With proper training and legal recognition, they can also educate people about snake species and their importance in the ecosystem, rather than exploiting them. Instead of completely banning the profession, it could be modified to serve the community in a better, more sustainable way.
Extra Questions for Exam/Test Prep with Answers on 'The Bond of Love' by Kenneth Anderson:
How did the narrator come across the baby sloth bear Bruno? What circumstances led him to take the bear home?
Describe Bruno's eating habits. What does this tell us about his personality?
What accident befell Bruno after he had been living with the family? How did the family handle the situation?
Why did the narrator’s wife have to part with Bruno? How did she cope with the separation?
What was Bruno’s reaction when he saw his owner at the zoo after being separated for months? What does this reveal about the bond between animals and humans?
How was Bruno transported back home from the zoo? Describe the special arrangements made for him after his return.
Why did the narrator change Bruno’s name to Baba? What significance does the new name carry?
What emotions did the narrator’s wife experience after sending Bruno to the zoo, and how did she express these feelings?
In what ways did the family members show their care and love for Bruno throughout the story? Provide examples.
What is the central theme of The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson, and how does the story illustrate the relationship between humans and wild animals?
Answers:
- How did the narrator come across the baby sloth bear Bruno? What circumstances led him to take the bear home?The narrator found Bruno when his mother was accidentally shot during a hunt near Mysore. After the mother bear was killed, the narrator noticed the baby bear clinging to her body. He decided to take the cub home as a gift for his wife.
- Describe Bruno's eating habits. What does this tell us about his personality?Bruno ate almost everything, from fruits and vegetables to meat, chocolates, and even poison! This shows that he was playful, carefree, and full of energy, but it also indicates that he was mischievous and curious by nature.
- What accident befell Bruno after he had been living with the family? How did the family handle the situation?Bruno accidentally ate barium carbonate poison that was put out to kill rats. He became paralyzed, but the family rushed him to the vet, who administered an antidote. Bruno recovered after receiving two injections.
- Why did the narrator’s wife have to part with Bruno? How did she cope with the separation?Bruno grew too large to be kept at home safely, so the family decided to send him to the zoo. The narrator’s wife was heartbroken and missed Bruno terribly, refusing to eat and constantly writing letters to the zoo to check on him.
- What was Bruno’s reaction when he saw his owner at the zoo after being separated for months? What does this reveal about the bond between animals and humans?Bruno was overjoyed to see his owner, standing on his head and showing signs of excitement. This reveals the deep emotional bond between animals and humans, proving that animals can recognize and remember those who love them.
- How was Bruno transported back home from the zoo? Describe the special arrangements made for him after his return.Bruno was brought home in a cage tied on top of a car. After his return, a special island surrounded by a moat was built for him to live safely. He was provided with a wooden box to sleep in and some of his favorite toys.
- Why did the narrator change Bruno’s name to Baba? What significance does the new name carry?The narrator’s wife affectionately renamed Bruno “Baba,” meaning "small boy" in Hindustani, as she considered him like a child. The name symbolizes the strong maternal bond she shared with the bear.
- What emotions did the narrator’s wife experience after sending Bruno to the zoo, and how did she express these feelings?The narrator’s wife was devastated after sending Bruno away. She cried, refused to eat, and continuously wrote letters to the zoo, asking about Bruno’s condition. Her actions show the depth of her attachment and sadness over the separation.
- In what ways did the family members show their care and love for Bruno throughout the story? Provide examples.The family showed their love by feeding Bruno with his favorite foods, treating him when he was poisoned, and creating a special home for him after his return from the zoo. The narrator’s wife, in particular, was deeply attached to Bruno, constantly showing affection and tending to him.
- What is the central theme of The Bond of Love by Kenneth Anderson, and how does the story illustrate the relationship between humans and wild animals?The central theme is the deep emotional bond between humans and animals. The story illustrates that animals, like Bruno, can feel love and affection and are capable of forming lasting connections with humans, despite their wild nature.
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