The Beggar by Anton Chekhov - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary of "The Beggar"

"The Beggar" by Anton Chekhov is a story about Lushkoff, a beggar who deceives people by lying about his circumstances to gain their sympathy and money. He tells Sergei, an advocate, that he was once a village schoolteacher and later a student, but Sergei recognizes him as a former singer dismissed for drunkenness. Sergei offers Lushkoff work chopping wood instead of giving him money.

Lushkoff reluctantly agrees, not out of willingness to work but out of pride and shame. Sergei's cook, Olga, does most of the wood chopping for him out of compassion. Over time, Sergei finds Lushkoff more work and eventually gets him a job copying documents. Two years later, Lushkoff meets Sergei again and reveals that he is now a notary, earning thirty-five roubles a month. He credits his transformation to Olga's kindness and Sergei's support, stating that Olga's actions inspired him to change his ways and stop drinking​.

Answers to Questions

1. Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?
   
   Lushkoff became a beggar by circumstance, as he lost his position as a singer in a Russian choir due to his alcoholism and had no other means to support himself​.
   

2. What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies? Lushkoff admits to Sergei that he lies because he finds it impossible to survive by telling the truth, as no one would give him anything if he were honest about his past.

3. Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?
   
   
   Lushkoff is not a willing worker. He agrees to chop wood out of pride and shame, feeling trapped by his own words and not wanting to admit his helplessness.

4. Sergei says, "I am happy that my words have taken effect." Why does he say so? Is he right in saying this?
   
   
   Sergei believes that his words have motivated Lushkoff to change his ways and stop drinking. While Sergei's encouragement helped, it was actually Olga's compassion and assistance that had the most significant impact on Lushkoff's transformation.

5. Lushkoff is earning thirty-five roubles a month. How is he obliged to Sergei for this?
   
   
   Lushkoff is obliged to Sergei for giving him a chance to work, which set him on the path to his current job as a notary. Sergei provided him with the initial opportunities to earn money and change his lifestyle.

6. During their conversation, Lushkoff reveals that Sergei’s cook, Olga, is responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff?
   
   
   Olga saved Lushkoff by secretly chopping the wood for him and showing him kindness and compassion. Her noble deeds and words inspired him to stop drinking and change his life for the better.

 

A House is Not a Home by Zayn Gaudioso - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary

The story "A House is Not a Home" by Zayn Gaudioso describes the challenges of starting high school and dealing with the loss of his home in a fire. The author feels isolated and struggles to adjust to the new school environment. A fire breaks out at home, destroying most of their belongings and leaving Zayn and his mother temporarily homeless. The community, including his new schoolmates, rallies to support him, providing clothes and school supplies. This act of kindness helps Zayn make new friends and feel a sense of belonging. Eventually, his beloved cat, who went missing during the fire, is found and returned by a kind woman. This reunion symbolizes the beginning of Zayn's emotional recovery and reconnection with life.

Think About It

1. What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?

   The author notices smoke coming into the room through the ceiling seams one Sunday afternoon. His mother reacts by running into the house twice: first to retrieve important documents and then to save pictures and letters of the author’s deceased father. She is eventually rescued by firefighters.

2. Why does he break down in tears after the fire?

   He breaks down in tears because the fire destroyed his home, and he couldn’t find his beloved cat. The combination of the new school, the fire, and the loss of his cat overwhelms him.

3. Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?

   The author is deeply embarrassed because he has to go to school in borrowed clothes and without any of his books or homework. Words like "destined to be an outcast and a geek" and "I just wanted to curl up and die" show his fear and insecurity.

4. The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?

   The cat always stayed close to the author, showing their strong bond. After the fire, the cat had run over a mile away. A kind woman found the cat and, after some effort, returned it to the author.

5. What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?

   The schoolmates take up a collection to buy him clothes and school supplies, showing their concern. This genuine act of kindness helps the author feel accepted and less lonely, allowing him to make new friends and start participating in life again.

6. What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?

   “My cat was back and so was I” means that with the return of his cat, the author feels emotionally restored. Although he hadn’t physically gone anywhere, the trauma had left him feeling lost and disconnected. The return of his cat signifies the end of his emotional turmoil and his reconnection with life.

Weathering the Storm in Ersama by Harsh Mander - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary of "Weathering the Storm in Ersama"

Prashant, a young man, experienced a devastating super cyclone in October 1999 while visiting a friend in Ersama, Orissa. The storm caused massive destruction, uprooting trees, and flooding areas, forcing Prashant and his friend's family to seek refuge on their rooftop. After two days of relentless rain, Prashant decided to return to his village, Kalikuda, to find his family. His journey through the floodwaters was filled with horror as he saw dead bodies and destroyed homes.

Upon reaching his village, Prashant found the remnants of his home and his family at a Red Cross shelter. Seeing the dire conditions at the shelter, he took charge and organized relief efforts, including securing food and cleaning the shelter. He also cared for orphans and widows, promoting community integration over institutionalization. Prashant's leadership helped the community recover, providing hope and support during their darkest times.

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wild - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary of "The Happy Prince"

The story "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde is about a beautiful statue of a prince that stands high above a city. The statue is covered in gold and adorned with precious stones. One night, a swallow seeking shelter lands at the statue's feet and discovers that the Happy Prince, despite his name, is deeply sad. The Prince explains that when he was alive, he lived a life of luxury and never knew sorrow. Now as a statue, he sees the suffering of the city's poor and wishes to help them.

The Prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his sword to a poor seamstress whose son is ill. Then, he asks the swallow to take one sapphire eye to a young playwright who is too cold and hungry to finish his work, and the other sapphire eye to a matchgirl who fears being beaten by her father. Despite the cold, the swallow agrees to stay with the Prince, helping him by distributing the gold leaf from his body to the poor.

The swallow eventually dies from the cold, and the Prince’s leaden heart breaks. The statue is deemed no longer beautiful and is removed by the townspeople. However, in the afterlife, God recognizes the true value of the Happy Prince and the swallow, and they are rewarded with eternal life in paradise.

Answers to "Think About It"

1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?

   • The courtiers call him the Happy Prince because he always seemed happy during his lifetime, living in luxury and never seeing sorrow. However, as a statue, he is not happy because he sees the misery and suffering in the city below him.

2. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?

   • The Happy Prince sends a ruby to the seamstress because she is poor and her son is ill and thirsty. The swallow delivers the ruby and fans the boy's forehead to cool him down, helping him feel better.

3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?

   • The prince sends one sapphire to a young playwright who is cold and hungry, so he can buy firewood and finish his play. The other sapphire is sent to a matchgirl who fears being beaten by her father for losing her matches, so she can avoid punishment.

4. What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?

   • The swallow sees the contrast between the rich, who are happy and comfortable, and the poor, who are suffering and struggling to survive. He sees starving children, beggars, and people in need.

5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

   • The swallow grows to care deeply for the Happy Prince and feels a sense of duty to help him in his mission to alleviate the suffering of the poor. Even though it is cold, the swallow stays with the Prince out of loyalty and compassion.

6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?

   • The precious things are the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. They are precious because they symbolize selflessness, love, and sacrifice. Despite their physical appearances, they represent the highest virtues in God's eyes.

Personal Experience Sharing

The story prompts readers to reflect on acts of kindness that warm the heart. An experience where helping someone in need or performing a good deed made you feel warm and happy inside, despite any discomfort or sacrifice, would be similar to the swallow's feelings in the story.

In the Kingdom of Fools by A.K. Ramanujan - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Summary of "In the Kingdom of Fools"

In the Kingdom of Fools, the king and his minister decide to invert the natural order by making people work at night and sleep during the day. A guru and his disciple arrive in this kingdom and are puzzled by the bizarre routine. They discover that all items cost the same, which delights the disciple but worries the guru, who decides to leave.

The disciple stays behind, enjoying the cheap food, and becomes very fat. One day, a thief dies when a wall collapses on him during a burglary. The thief’s brother demands justice from the king, who orders a series of trials to find the culprit responsible for the thief's death. The blame shifts from the merchant to the bricklayer, the dancing girl, and the goldsmith, eventually circling back to the original merchant.

The king decides to execute the merchant but finds him too thin to be impaled. He then orders the execution of the fat disciple instead. The guru returns and uses cleverness to save his disciple by convincing the king that whoever dies on the stake will be reborn as the king and minister. The foolish king and minister decide to die in their place to secure their rebirth as rulers. They are executed, and the guru and disciple are asked to rule the kingdom. They agree on the condition that the laws be changed to normalcy.

Answers to "Think About It"

1. Two strange things in the Kingdom of Fools:

   • People worked at night and slept during the day.
   • All items in the market cost the same, just one duddu.

2. Disciple's decision to stay:

   • The disciple stays because everything is cheap and he enjoys the food. This is not a good idea as the kingdom's foolishness poses unpredictable dangers.

3. People tried in the king's court:

   • Merchant: For having a weak wall that killed the thief.
   • Bricklayer: For building the weak wall.
   • Dancing girl: For distracting the bricklayer.
   • Goldsmith: For delaying the dancing girl's jewelry, causing her to distract the bricklayer.
   • Merchant's father: Originally blamed, but he's dead.

4. Real culprit according to the king:

   • The merchant’s deceased father, as he ordered the jewelry that caused the chain of events. The merchant escapes punishment as the king decides to punish someone else in his place.

5. Guru’s words of wisdom:

   • The guru advises that fools are dangerous and unpredictable, warning his disciple. The disciple remembers this when he is about to be executed.

6. Guru saves his disciple:

   • The guru convinces the king that the stake has a special power to make the first person who dies on it the next king and the second the minister. The king and minister, fearing loss of their kingdom in the next life, decide to die in their place.

Iswaran the Storyteller by R.K. Laxman - Moments - Class 9 - NCERT Q&A Solved

 Summary of "Iswaran the Storyteller"

The story is about Mahendra, a junior supervisor working for a firm that hires out supervisors to various construction sites. He moves frequently for work and is accompanied by his cook, Iswaran. Iswaran is a resourceful and talented cook who can conjure up delicious meals even in the most desolate places. Additionally, Iswaran is an excellent storyteller who narrates gripping tales filled with adventure, suspense, and horror.

One night, after Iswaran shares a particularly terrifying ghost story, Mahendra experiences a chilling encounter. He wakes up to see a ghostly figure outside his window, which greatly unsettles him. The next morning, Iswaran casually mentions that Mahendra had seen the ghost he had described, which frightens Mahendra enough to make him decide to leave the place immediately.

Answers to 'Think About It'

1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?

   • Iswaran is an asset to Mahendra because he is not only a skilled cook who can prepare delicious meals in difficult conditions, but also a loyal companion who follows Mahendra to all his postings. Additionally, Iswaran entertains Mahendra with his storytelling, making life more enjoyable.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?

   • Iswaran describes the uprooted tree on the highway as a monstrous beast lying sprawled across the road, creating suspense and drama in his narration. He aims to captivate and thrill his listeners by adding an element of surprise and excitement to an otherwise mundane incident.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

   • Iswaran narrates the story of the tusker with great enthusiasm and detail, describing how he bravely confronted and subdued a rampaging elephant with a single blow to its toenail. While his storytelling is vivid and engaging, the tale itself seems exaggerated and implausible, adding to the charm of Iswaran’s storytelling prowess.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

   • The author states this because Iswaran's captivating stories filled with suspense, horror, and drama provide Mahendra with entertainment and excitement, compensating for the lack of television in his living quarters.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

   • On a full-moon night, Mahendra hears a low moan near his window and, despite trying to ignore it, eventually sees a ghostly figure outside. This frightens him and makes him reconsider his disbelief in ghosts, showing how Iswaran’s stories have influenced his imagination.

6. Can you think of some other ending for the story?

   • An alternate ending could be Mahendra discovering that the ghostly figure was actually a prank played by Iswaran to teach him a lesson about respecting local beliefs and traditions. This revelation could lead to a deeper bond between the two characters, with Mahendra appreciating Iswaran’s storytelling even more.

Qualities of a Good Storyteller

A good storyteller like Iswaran possesses:

• Imagination: Creating vivid and engaging stories.
• Dramatic Flair: Using expressive gestures and voice modulation to captivate the audience.
• Suspense Building: Keeping the listeners on edge with unexpected twists.
• Relatability: Weaving elements of everyday life into the stories to make them more believable and entertaining.

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.