Textbook Solution: Travelling with Grandfather`s Zoo | Class 6 English Alive PDF Download

A. Match the names with the characters.

Name:

Chips

Timothy

Popeye

Character:

a. tiger

b. parrot

c. squirrel

Answers:

c. squirrel

a. tiger

b. parrot

Detailed Explanation:

Chips is mentioned as emerging from the narrator's pocket and scurrying along the corridor, which is typical behavior for a squirrel.

Timothy is given a whole berth to himself in a first-class compartment, suggesting he is a larger animal, specifically a tiger.

Popeye shrieks "All aboard!" indicating he can talk, which is characteristic of a parrot.

B. Answer these questions briefly.

Q1: Where was the narrator going?

Ans: The narrator was traveling from Dehra to Lucknow.

Q2: Who were the narrator's traveling companions? What was strange about them?

Ans: The narrator's traveling companions were his grandmother, grandfather, and their exotic pets including a parrot, a tiger, a squirrel, and a python. What was strange is that it's highly unusual to travel with such exotic animals as pets.

Q3: How was Timothy better behaved than most passengers?

Ans: Timothy the tiger was described as a perfect passenger because he did not cause any trouble like stealing, shouting, or spitting, which are behaviors sometimes exhibited by human passengers.

Q4: What happened to the family's dinner?

Ans: The family's dinner was eaten by the python, which had secretly stowed away in the tiffin basket. It swallowed whole items like a roast chicken, a gooseberry pie, and boiled eggs.

Q5: Who was their unwelcome companion? What did Grandfather do to it?

Ans: The unwelcome companion was the python. Grandfather ultimately took the python back to their compartment and then later to a guava tree in their new home’s garden.

Q6: Why was there a commotion in the train?

Ans: There was a commotion because the python had escaped and was found in the washroom, causing passengers to panic as they couldn't use the toilet.

Q7: Why did Grandmother scold Grandfather?

Ans: Grandmother scolded Grandfather because she believed he had intentionally brought the python along, despite her insistence that it be left behind.

Q8: What happened when Aunt Mabel opened the lid of the basket?

Ans: When Aunt Mabel opened the basket, she saw the python half-asleep with an apple in its mouth, which caused her to faint.

C. Think and answer the questions.

Q1: Do you think the animals enjoyed their train journey? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: It seems like the animals had an enjoyable journey. Chips found the train to be a paradise full of peanuts and friends. Timothy had a comfortable berth and was well-behaved, indicating comfort. Popeye had the freedom to interact with others, although he got agitated by the vendors.

Q2: Pick out a few humorous incidents from the story.

Ans: Humorous incidents include Popeye tweaking a ticket inspector’s ear, the python devouring the entire dinner unbeknownst to the family, and Aunt Mabel fainting at the sight of the python in the basket.

Q3: The author attributes human qualities to the animals in the story. Pick out a few such examples. What does this show about the author's feelings for animals?

Ans: Examples include Timothy being praised as a perfect passenger, Popeye communicating with shrieks and complaints, and Chips making friends on the train. This humanization of animals shows the author’s affection and respect for animals, portraying them as sentient beings with distinct personalities.

Q4: Write a character sketch of Aunt Mabel.

Ans: Aunt Mabel is portrayed as a lover of good food, hopeful and optimistic about receiving tasty dishes from the tiffin basket. Her reaction to the python shows she can be quite dramatic, yet she is involved and caring as she immediately takes charge of the tiffin basket and gives directions to the taxi driver.