NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English - The Man Who Knew Too Much

Q1. The ‘Professor’ knew too much. How did he prove himself? Fill up the space with suitable examples from the story, using the given clues:

(a) About muzzle velocity: _________________

Ans: When the sergeant said the bullet’s speed was over 2000 feet per second, the Professor corrected him and said it was exactly 2440 feet per second.

(b) After a thirty mile walk: _______________

Ans: Even after a tiring 30-mile walk, Quelch seemed to be energetic and encouraged others to sing.

(c) His salute on payday: __________________

Ans: On payday, he would salute the officers by swinging his arms and marching to the canteen like a Guardsman.

(d) The loud sound of a high flying invisible aeroplane: _________________________________

Ans: Upon hearing a loud noise from a high-flying, invisible aeroplane, the Professor identified it as a North American Harvard Trainer.

(e) About hand grenades :

Ans: When Corporal Turnbull mentioned that a grenade breaks into many fragments, the Professor confidently stated it is divided into forty-four segments.

(f) During cookhouse duties: ______________

Ans: During his cookhouse duties, too, the ‘Professor’ protested against the unscientific and unhygienic method of peeling the potatoes, saying that it led to the loss of vitamins.

Q2. Based on your reading of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct options.

(a) Private Quelch was nicknamed ‘Professor’ because of _______________ .

(i) his appearance
(ii) his knowledge
(iii) his habit of reading
(iv) his habit of sermonising

Ans : (iv) his habit of sermonising.

(b) One could hammer nails into Corporal Turnbull without his noticing it because of _______.

(i) he was a strong and sturdy man
(ii) he was oblivious to his surroundings
(iii) he was a brave corporal
(iv) he was used to it

Ans : (i) he was a strong and sturdy man.

(c) The author and his friend Trower fled from the scene as _______________ .

(i) They had to catch a train
(ii) They could not stand Private Quelch exhibiting his knowledge
(iii) They felt they would have to lend a helping hand.
(iv) They did not want to meet the cooks.

Ans: (ii) They couldn’t stand Private Quelch exhibiting his knowledge.

(d) The main reason that the Professor remained unflinched despite the retaliation of his batch-mates was due to the fact that

(i) his desire to impress people overruled the humiliation he experienced each time.
(ii) his miraculously tireless personality couldn't stop him from working extra hard.
(iii) he was so involved in excelling that he barely noticed sarcastic comments.
(iv) he knew that the only way to earn respect is through hard work.

Ans. (iii) he was so involved in excelling that he barely noticed sarcastic comments.

(e) Choose the expression that uses the same literary device as used in the line "he was so tough that you could hammer nails into him without his noticing it."

(i) My mom made enough food to feed an army last night.
(ii) My alarm clock yells at me to get out of bed every morning.
(iii) The car complained as the key was roughly turned in its ignition.
(iv) Lightning danced across the sky like a fairy beating against the clouds.

Ans.  (iv) Lightning danced across the sky like a fairy beating against the clouds.

Q3. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:

(I)

Without even a glance upward, the Professor announced, “That, of course, is a North American Harvard Trainer. It can be unmistakably identified by the harsh engine note, due to the high tip speed of the airscrew.” What could a gang of louts like us do with a man like that?

(i) Choose the option that best describes the traits of the Professor in the given extract.

patience

awareness

knowledge

flamboyance

kindness

a) 1, 2, 3

b) 2, 3, 4

c) 2, 3, 5

d) 3, 4, 5

Ans. b) 2, 3, 4

ii) The author refers to himself and his peers as ‘louts’ to

a) bring out the contrast with the Professor.
b) comment on the expertise in other fields.
c) draw attention to the lack of teamwork in all.
d) accept the display of undisciplined behaviour.

Ans. d) accept the display of undisciplined behaviour.

(II)

In the silence that followed a dark flush stained the tan of the Corporal’s face. “Here,” he said at last, “you give this lecture”. As if afraid to say any more, he tossed the grenade to the Professor. Quite unabashed, Private Quelch climbed to his feet and with the attitude of a man coming into his birth-right gave us an unexceptionable lecture on the grenade.

 i) Choose the statement that is NOT TRUE about the depiction of the scene described in the above lines.

a) Private Quelch knew more about hand grenades than Turnbull.
b) Turnbull was not someone who would let things go easily.
c) The entire batch was stunned at Quelch’s audacity.
d) Quelch was able to impress Turnbull with his vast knowledge.

Ans. d) Quelch was able to impress Turnbull with his vast knowledge.

ii) The silence that follows Quelch’s remarks shows that the entire batch did not

a) wish to see Turnbull humiliated.
b) want Quelch embarrassed.
c) know how to react
d) care for the conversation.

Ans. c) know how to react

iii) The fact that Quelch delivered the lecture when asked to do so shows that he

a) wanted to teach Turnbull a valuable lesson.
b) failed to take the hint that Turnbull felt insulted.
c) knew when to flaunt his knowledge for his own benefit.
d) established himself as a man superior to Turnbull

Ans. c) knew when to flaunt his knowledge for his own benefit.

Q3. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) What is ‘nickname’? Can you suggest one for Private Quelch?

Ans: A nickname is a funny or short name given instead of the real name. For Private Quelch, a suitable nickname could be “Mr. Show-off.”

(b) Private Quelch looked like a ‘Professor’ when the author first met him at the training depot. Why?

Ans. Private Quelch looked like a Professor because he was thin, wore spectacles, walked with a stoop, frowned, and looked serious.

(c) What does the dark, sun-dried appearance of the sergeant suggest about him?

Ans: During class, he not only answered all questions but even corrected the sergeant and gave exact technical terms.

(d) How does Private Quelch expose his knowledge even further as the sergeant’s classes go on?

Ans. As the sergeant's classes progressed, Quelch not only corrected the sergeant's understanding of the rifle but also answered all questions posed to him. He excelled in providing technical definitions.

(e) What did the Professor mean by “intelligent reading”?

Ans. By "intelligent reading," Quelch referred to his diligent nature, intelligence, and desire for knowledge. He effectively used his memory and knowledge at crucial moments to impress his instructors, which he termed as “intelligent reading”.

(f) What were the Professor’s ambitions in the army?

Ans. Professor Quelch wanted to race ahead of all his batch in getting a commission. His first step was to get a stripe.

(g) Did Private Quelch’s day-to-day practices take him closer towards his goal? How can you make out?

Ans. Despite his ambition and diligence, Quelch's approach to impressing his instructors ultimately backfired. His attempts to showcase his knowledge often irritated his superiors, leading to his relegation to the back quarters of the kitchen house.

(h) How did Private Quelch manage to anger the corporal?

Ans. He interrupted Corporal Turnbull during a grenade lesson and explained it in detail, making the Corporal feel insulted.

(i) Do you think Private Quelch learnt a lesson when he was chosen for cookhouse duties? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans:  No, Quelch was quite conceited and indifferent to others' opinions.. Even in the cookhouse, he gave lectures about peeling potatoes. He never changed his habit.

(j) Elaborate on any one character trait of Corporal Turnbull with evidence from the text.

Ans. Corporal Turnbull is portrayed as a tough and disciplined leader, respected for his military experience despite his youth. His background, including experiences from Dunkirk, highlights his ability to handle challenging situations. He values organisation and practicality, even carrying a kitten in his pocket. Turnbull remains calm but can assert authority when needed, as seen in his interactions with Quelch. This balance of toughness and understanding earns him the respect of his squad.

(k) Infer the reason that left the squad horrified when Turnbull asked Quelch to deliver the lesson.

Ans. The squad was shocked by Private Quelch's boldness in taking over the class from their respected instructor, who was a well-liked war veteran from Dunkirk. The other recruits found it highly disrespectful to challenge him, particularly as he was their teacher and they were still newcomers in the group. This bold act not only undermined the authority of their instructor but also created an uncomfortable atmosphere among the recruits, who were taken aback by Quelch's unabashed behaviour.

Q4. Answer in detail 

(a) Quelch’s character teaches us that with hard work, one also needs to have social and emotional intelligence. Justify.

Ans.  Private Quelch was a new soldier who wanted to impress his instructors with his military knowledge. However, he often boasted and pointed out their mistakes, which annoyed the experienced veterans from battles like Dunkirk. This disrespectful behaviour led others to avoid him, showcasing his lack of social skills and emotional intelligence. His eagerness to demonstrate knowledge did not translate into respect from his peers, highlighting the importance of balancing hard work with interpersonal awareness.

 Q5. Write down the positive and negative traits of Private Quelch’s character and instances from the story.

Ans.
Positive traits: Instances from the story
(i) Hardworking- He sat up reading books till late at night.
(ii) Confident – He had the guts to interrupt his instructors, like the sergeant and even Corporal Turnbull.
(iii) Sharp memory – He could remember technical definitions and other information very precisely.
(iv) Tireless – He could think of a song, even after 30 miles of the walk.

Negative traits: Instances from the story
(i) Stern-looking – He often appeared stern and unfriendly due to his frowning and serious expression. 
(ii) Show-off – He was very condescending to his teammates. He would pretend to help and show off in the bargain.
(iii) Rude –  He rudely interrupted his instructors and pretended to have superior knowledge to them.
(iv) Overbearing – Quelch’s worst flaw was his tendency to overshadow others. He needlessly tried to show his knowledge and belittle and humiliate others.

Q6. You are the ‘Professor’. Write a diary entry after your first day in the cookhouse. Describe the events that led to this assignment. Also, express your thoughts and feelings about the events of the day in about 150 words.

Army Training Depot, Liverpool. July 20, 1948
Dear Diary,
Today was my first day in the cookhouse. I felt very disappointed because I wanted to do outdoor training, not peel potatoes. Corporal Turnbull gave me this duty after I corrected him during class. My friends laughed at me, and that hurt.
In the kitchen, the soldiers were peeling potatoes carelessly. I tried to explain that they were wasting vitamins, but no one listened. I wanted to help, but instead they just mocked me. I still believe I was right, yet it seems nobody values my knowledge here.
It was a hard day, and I feel upset. Still, I will keep reading and preparing. One day, I will surely get a commission.
Yours,
Quelch