Previous Year Questions : The Adventures of Toto | English Class 9 PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why did the writer’s grandfather buy Toto from the Tonga driver?

Ans: The writer's grandfather bought Toto from the tonga driver to enhance his private zoo collection.

Q2. Where did they keep Toto after bringing him?

Ans: Toto was kept in a small closet located in the writer's bedroom.

Q3. What were the other animals that stayed with the monkey in the grandfather’s zoo?

Ans: In the grandfather's zoo, there were several animals that lived together harmoniously. These included a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a squirrel, and the writer's pet goat.

Q4. Who was the companion of Toto in the writer’s grandfather’s house?

Ans: The family donkey, Nana, was Toto's companion in the writer's grandfather's house.

Q5. What did Toto take from the lunch table?

Ans: Toto took a dish full of rice from the lunch table.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Where was Toto transferred from the author’s bedroom? Did he remain peaceful there?

Ans: Toto was moved to a big cage located in the servants' quarters, where he shared space with other animals from Grandfather's private zoo. This included a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, and a pet goat. However, Toto's behaviour was disruptive; he did not allow the other animals to sleep peacefully at night.

Q2. How did Toto get along with other animals?

Ans: Toto did not get along well with other animals. He often troubled Nana, the family donkey, by fastening himself onto her long ears with his sharp teeth. This behaviour prevented other animals from sleeping peacefully.

Q3. Why did Toto throw a plate at Grandmother?

Ans: One day, Toto spotted a large plate of pulao on the dining table and began to eat it. When Grandmother entered and saw him eating the rice, she screamed. Toto, upset by her reaction, threw the plate at her, causing it to shatter into pieces.

Q4. Why was Toto sold back to the tonga-driver?

Ans: Grandfather realised that Toto could not be kept in the house for long. The family struggled with the constant loss of dishes, clothes, curtains, and wallpaper due to Toto's mischief. Ultimately, Grandfather decided to sell Toto back to the tonga-driver for just three rupees.

Q5. How does Toto come to Grandfather’s private zoo? OR Why did the author’s Grandfather decide to buy Toto?

Ans: Grandfather had a love for pets and noticed a red monkey tied to a feeding trough by a tonga-driver. Feeling that the monkey seemed out of place, he decided to buy him for five rupees. This addition was meant to enhance his private zoo, which already housed various birds and animals.

Q6. Why did Grandfather hide Toto for some time when he brought him home? OR Why was Toto’s entry into Grandfather’s Zoo kept a secret?

Ans: Grandfather, who loved pets, knew that bringing a new animal home would upset Grandmother. To avoid her fussing, he decided to hide Toto for a while and keep his arrival a secret until Grandmother was in a better mood.

Q7. Where was Toto kept immediately after Grandfather got him? Why?

Ans: Toto was kept in a closet that opened into the narrator's bedroom wall. He was tied securely to a peg fixed into the wall. This arrangement was made to keep him secret from Grandmother, who always created a fuss whenever a new pet was brought into the house.

Q8. What destruction was caused by Toto to the narrator’s room?

Ans: Toto caused significant damage in the narrator's room. He tore off the ornamental paper from the walls, leaving them exposed. Additionally, he wrenched the peg from the wall to which he was tied, and he shredded the narrator's school blazer, leaving it in tatters.

Q9. How did Grandfather decide to carry Toto to Saharanpur? Why?

Ans: Grandfather decided to carry Toto to Saharanpur in a big black canvas kit bag because Toto was a very mischievous monkey. If he had not been zipped up in the bag, he would have certainly caused trouble. Additionally, carrying animals without permission was against the rules of the railway authorities.

Q10. How did Grandfather try to keep the presence of his travelling-mate a secret? OR Who was Grandfather’s traveling mate to Saharanpur? How did he try to keep his presence a secret?

Ans: Toto was Grandfather's travelling companion to Saharanpur. To keep his presence a secret, Grandfather placed him in a large canvas kit bag with some straw at the bottom. The canvas was too thick for Toto to bite through, and the bag was tightly closed, preventing any escape. Despite his efforts to get out, which caused the bag to roll or jump, Toto remained hidden until they reached Saharanpur. However, while Grandfather was showing his ticket, Toto unexpectedly poked his head out, surprising the ticket-collector.

Q11. Why did Grandfather get annoyed at the Saharanpur station?

Ans: Grandfather became annoyed at Saharanpur station because the ticket collector insisted on referring to Toto as a dog. Despite Grandfather's attempts to explain that Toto was a monkey and not a quadruped, the ticket collector maintained his stance. Consequently, Grandfather was forced to pay three rupees as fare for Toto.

Q12. Why did Grandfather show his tortoise to the ticket collector?

Ans: Grandfather became annoyed when the ticket collector insisted that Toto, his monkey, was a dog and demanded a fare. Despite Grandfather's attempts to explain that Toto was not a dog, the collector charged him three rupees. To retaliate, Grandfather took out his tortoise from his pocket and asked how much he needed to pay for it. The ticket collector examined the tortoise and, after poking it, declared there was no charge, as it was not a dog.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe Toto’s bath ritual. OR How did Toto take a bath during winter? How did he learn to bathe in that manner?

Ans: Toto enjoyed a warm bath on chilly winter evenings. His grandmother provided a large bowl of warm water for him. He would first check the water's temperature with his hand, then step in gradually, placing one foot after the other, just as he had seen the narrator do. Once comfortable, he would rub soap all over his body using his hands or feet. When the water cooled down, he would quickly get out and rush to the kitchen fire to dry himself.

If anyone laughed at him during his bath, Toto would feel hurt and stop bathing. One day, he nearly boiled himself when he climbed into a large kettle left on the fire. He found the water warm enough for a bath and got in, but as the water began to boil, he had to hop up and down until his grandmother rescued him, half-boiled.

Q2. Describe the situation where grandfather found himself at the Saharanpur railway station.

Ans: Toto had not yet been revealed to Grandmother. The following day, Grandfather needed to visit Saharanpur to collect his pension and decided to take Toto with him. He placed Toto in a large black canvas bag, which was too sturdy for the monkey to bite through. Toto stayed in the bag throughout the journey.

Upon reaching the station, as the ticket collector checked Grandfather's ticket, Toto unexpectedly poked his head out of the bag and smiled at the collector. The collector, surprised, insisted that Grandfather had a dog and that he needed to pay for it. Despite Grandfather's attempts to explain that Toto was a monkey, the collector remained firm and charged an additional three rupees.

In a bid to turn the situation to his advantage, Grandfather then showed the collector his pet tortoise, asking what fare was required for it. The collector examined the tortoise and, after confirming it was not a dog, declared that no charge was necessary.

Q3. Why does Grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur, and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Ans: Grandfather took Toto to Saharanpur to collect his pension. He couldn't leave Toto at home because it was still a secret from Grandmother, and Toto's mischievous behaviour made it risky. To ensure Toto wouldn't escape or disturb other passengers, Grandfather packed him securely in a large, black canvas kit bag.

The train journey to Saharanpur was mostly uneventful until Toto poked his head out of the bag and grinned at the ticket collector. The collector, surprised, insisted that Grandfather pay for Toto, claiming he had a dog with him. Despite Grandfather's attempts to explain that Toto was a monkey and not a dog, the ticket collector insisted on classifying him as such, leading to a fare of three rupees.

In a light-hearted response, Grandfather then took out their pet tortoise and asked the ticket collector what the fare would be for it. The collector examined the tortoise and, after some thought, declared there would be no charge since it was not a dog.

Q4. What ruckus did Toto create at lunchtime one day? Or How did Toto get on Grandmother’s nerves at lunchtime one day?

Ans: During one lunchtime, a large dish of pulao was placed at the centre of the dining table. When the family entered, they were shocked to find Toto, the monkey, stuffing himself with rice. This startled Grandmother, who screamed, prompting Toto to throw a plate at her in self-defence. One of the narrator's aunts rushed to help, only to receive a glass of water in her face from Toto.

When Grandfather arrived, Toto seized the pulao dish and escaped through the window. The family later discovered him in a jackfruit tree, where he spent the afternoon finishing every grain of rice. To spite Grandmother for her earlier scream, Toto threw the empty dish down from the tree, chattering with delight as it shattered into pieces.

Q5. Grandfather possessed the values of childlike simplicity. Do you agree/disagree? Give reasons.

Ans: Grandfather owned a private zoo with various animals, including a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, and a tame squirrel. His childlike love for animals led him to secretly acquire a monkey named Toto, despite Grandmother's disapproval. This secrecy highlights his innocent nature. For instance, when Toto damaged the narrator's school blazer, Grandfather found it amusing and remarked on Toto's cleverness, demonstrating his playful spirit. Additionally, when he hid Toto in a bag during a train journey and produced a tortoise to avoid extra charges, it further illustrates his childlike simplicity. Such actions confirm that, despite his age, Grandfather retained a youthful and innocent outlook on life.