Class 9 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - Moments

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Why were the people of the kingdom confused when they saw the dead bodies of the king and his minister?

Ans: The people of the kingdom were confused when they saw the dead bodies of the king and the minister. They expected to see the Guru and the disciple instead. The citizens could not comprehend the deception that had been carried out by the Guru against their leaders, leading to their confusion and panic.

Q2. When does the disciple remember the words of the Guru?

Ans: The disciple initially ignored his Guru's advice to leave the kingdom of fools. However, when the king deemed him suitable for execution, he suddenly recalled the Guru's words: "This is a city of fools. You don't know what they will do next." In that moment, he realised the wisdom of his Guru as he awaited his fate.

Q3. How was the kingdom of Fools different from any other place?

Ans: In the Kingdom of Fools, everything was unusual. Night was treated as day, and day as night. Both people and animals were awake at night. Remarkably, everything could be purchased for a duddu, regardless of what it was.

Q4. Why did the Guru want that he and his disciple should die first?

Ans: The Guru wanted both himself and his disciple to die first to save his disciple from execution. He devised a clever plan to convince the king that whoever died first would be reborn as king and minister in their next life. This strategy exploited the king's superstition, ensuring their safety.

Q5. On what conditions did the Guru and his disciple agree to rule that kingdom?

Ans: The guru and his disciple agreed to rule the kingdom on the condition that they could change all the old and foolish laws. This meant that night would be recognised as night, and day would be treated as a regular working day. Additionally, prices would be adjusted based on the actual value of goods.

Q6. Why did the Guru not want to stay in the Kingdom of Fools?

Ans: The Guru did not want to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because the people there were foolish and unpredictable. He feared that their foolishness could lead to harm.

Q7. Why does the disciple not want to leave the Kingdom of the fools?

Ans: The disciple chose to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because everything was affordable and easily accessible. The availability of cheap food made life seem simple and enjoyable. Despite the guru's warnings about the foolishness of the kingdom, the disciple preferred the comfort of his surroundings.

Q8. Why did the king decide to postpone the execution of the Guru and his disciples?

Ans: The Guru cleverly deceived the king by claiming that those who were dying would be reborn as the king and minister in their next life. The gullible king believed the Guru's words and decided to postpone the execution of the Guru and his disciples.

Q9. What was so strange about the Kingdom of Fools?

Ans: The strange aspect of the Kingdom of Fools was that both humans and animals were made to sleep during the day. In this kingdom, everything came to a standstill during daylight hours, creating an unusual atmosphere where no one was awake.

Q10. Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape from the punishment?

Ans: The real culprit according to the king is the rich merchant. The king believes the merchant is responsible for the collapse of a wall that killed a thief, as he inherited both his father's wealth and his sins. However, the merchant escapes punishment because he is too thin to be executed on the newly made stake. This leads the king to seek a fat man to fit the stake instead.

Q11. What advice did the Guru give to the disciple before going out of the city?

Ans: The Guru warned his disciple that it was dangerous to remain in a Kingdom of Fools. He explained that there was no justice there, only foolish and unpredictable behaviour. According to the Guru, such a kingdom would not endure for long.

Q12. What is the Guru’s wisdom? When does the disciple realize this?

Ans: The Guru's wisdom is about understanding the lack of justice and the unpredictable nature of the Kingdom of Fools. He warns his disciple to leave, anticipating potential dangers. The disciple truly grasps the importance of this wisdom when he faces execution, regretting that he ignored the Guru's advice.

Q13. Why did the king want to punish the merchant?

Ans: The king wanted to punish the merchant because a wall from his house fell on a thief, resulting in the thief's death. The merchant had inherited his father's wealth, and with it, he also inherited his father's sins. Therefore, the king believed he should be held accountable for this incident.

Q14. Who became the king and the prime minister of the kingdom?

Ans: As the kingdom lacked a king, the people urged the Guru and his disciple to take the throne. Eventually, the holy man agreed to become the king, while his disciple assumed the role of Prime Minister. They agreed to rule under the condition that they could reform the old laws.

Q15. What two things were different in the kingdom of fools?

Ans: In the Kingdom of Fools, two notable differences were that the people worked at night and slept during the day. Additionally, everything was sold at the same price; for instance, a duddu could buy both a mass of rice and a bunch of bananas.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q16. The disciple in the story didn’t look into the depth of the matter and made a hasty decision to not leave the kingdom of fools. What light does the story throw on the importance of good decision-making in one’s life?

Ans: The disciple in the story failed to consider the situation carefully and made a hasty decision to remain in the Kingdom of Fools. He was tempted by the low prices of goods, where anything could be purchased for a 'Dudu', whether it was rice or bananas. Ignoring his Guru's warning about the dangers of staying in such a place, the disciple chose to stay, prioritising cheap food over his safety. His mistake became clear when he was selected for execution, leading him to regret his choice. This incident highlights how a single poor decision can have severe consequences, potentially costing one their life.

Q17. Do you believe in the fact that our prayers are often heard and answered? There are miracles which change the course of life. Which miracle took place in the story? ‘In the Kingdom of Fools? What lesson do you learn from the Guru’s word of wisdom?

Ans: It is often believed that our prayers are heard and answered, as demonstrated in the story ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’. The king ordered the execution of the disciple, who prayed to his Guru for help. A miracle occurred when the Guru heard his prayer and arrived to rescue him. He whispered a plan to the disciple and then addressed the king, suggesting that he should be executed first. The king agreed, believing that whoever died first would be the king in their next life. This clever advice from the Guru saved both the disciple and himself. The disciple learned the importance of heeding his Guru’s words of wisdom and realised his mistake in not listening sooner.

Q18. You are the disciple in the story, “Kingdom of the Fools”. You are in trouble as you are about to be hanged. You decide to write a letter to your Guru regretting your decision to stay in the kingdom of fools and requesting him to help you. Write the letter in 80 words.

Ans:

Respected Guru ji,

I write to you in desperation, regretting my choice to remain in this Kingdom of Fools. I succumbed to the allure of cheap, tasty food, and now I face serious trouble. I am trapped and will soon be hanged. The people here are foolish, and reasoning with them is futile. You are my only hope for salvation. Please come quickly to rescue me. I promise to heed your advice in the future and exercise better self-control.

Your disciple.

Q19. How did the Guru and his disciple become the king and the minister of the kingdom?

Ans: The Guru realised that the king and his minister were foolish. To protect his disciple, he devised a clever plan. He claimed that the first person executed would become the king in the next life, while the second would be the minister. The gullible king and minister, believing this, arranged for their own executions. With the kingdom now leaderless, the Guru and his disciple were appointed as the new king and minister.

Q20. How did the Guru manage to save his disciple?

Ans: The king ordered the execution of his disciple, who prayed for help. The Guru, sensing his disciple's distress, appeared in a vision. He whispered a message to the disciple and then approached the king, asking him to execute the Guru first. The disciple, understanding the plan, insisted on being executed before the Guru, which confused the king.

Realising the situation, the king succumbed to his desire for power and decided to be reborn as king. That night, he and his minister secretly freed the Guru and the disciple, disguising themselves as them to face execution instead. Thus, the Guru successfully saved his disciple.

Q21. “Guru was a wise man” – how does the story “The Kingdom of Fools” reflect it?

Ans: The Kingdom of Fools illustrates that Guru was a wise man through his advice to his disciples to avoid the kingdom. Despite his warnings, the disciple chose to stay, believing the future was uncertain. When he was captured by the King's men, he realised the importance of his Guru's words and regretted not heeding his advice. This experience confirmed the Guru's wisdom, as it ultimately led to the disciple's salvation. Their eventual rise to the roles of king and prime minister further emphasises the Guru's insight and guidance.