Class 9 Moments Supplementary Reader Chapter 2 Question Answers - The Adventures of Toto

Q1: Grandmother disliked pets. Was it appropriate for grandfather to keep a small zoo at home and bring in Toto, the monkey? Discuss.

Ans: 

• Grandfather had an immense love for animals. He had created a private zoo in the house. 
• One could see a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, and pet goats in his zoo. He took special care when his grandmother had an aversion to pets. 
• When Toto was brought home, his arrival was kept a secret. Toto was a naughty monkey. All the time, he kept creating problems in the family. 
• Since the very day Toto entered the house, he started damaging the household things. He pulled out the peg and tore wallpapers and the author’s blazer. 
• Moreover, he never let other animals live harmoniously with the other pets. He proved to be an expensive deal. So, grandfather was not right in keeping Toto in his private zoo. 
• Grandfather should also have kept in mind the likes and dislikes of the grandmother.

Q2: Toto was a sharp and active monkey. Discuss.

Ans:  

• Toto was very observant and quick. He watched how the narrator took a bath and copied every action, even checking the water temperature with his hand.
• Toto's appearance made him look smart and active. He had deep-set eyebrows over sparkling eyes, pearly white teeth that often showed in a grin, quick fingers that he used mischievously, and a long tail. All these made Toto seem like a clever monkey.
• However, he used his intelligence for mischief. He ruined the wallpaper in the narrator’s bedroom, shredded his school blazer, disturbed the other animals, bit the family donkey’s ears, made holes in the narrator’s aunt’s dresses, and stole and broke a dish of pulao.
• So, while Toto was sharp and active, he was hard to train and couldn't be kept as a pet for long without causing trouble.

Q3: Describe, in brief, the adventures of Toto, the monkey.
Ans:  

• The story is about a clever and mischievous monkey named Toto. He was bought from a tonga driver for five rupees.
• At first, Toto was kept in a small room next to the narrator’s bedroom, where he tore off the wallpaper and ruined the narrator’s school blazer.
• Later, Toto was moved to the grandfather’s private zoo in Saharanpur and put in a canvas cage. He kept the other animals awake at night.
• Toto also went with the grandfather to the stable, costing an extra three rupees for his ticket. He found the water too hot and bothered the donkey.
• Once, Toto climbed into a kettle on the fire. During lunch, he saw a dish of food and got excited. The grandfather had to rescue him from the kettle.
• Throughout the story, Toto gets into many funny and troublesome situations. He is curious and creates chaos wherever he goes.

Q4: Why does Grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur, and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Ans: 

• Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to get his pension. He could not leave behind Toto because his presence in the house was still a secret for Grandmother. 
• In addition, Toto was too mischievous. How he had torn the wallpaper, shredded the narrator’s school blazer, and ill-treated other animals made it too risky to leave him behind. 
• Grandfather securely packed Toto in a big, black canvas kit bag so he could not escape or bother other passengers. 
• That is how Toto accompanied Grandfather on his train journey to Saharanpur.
  The journey was largely uneventful, but Toto poked out his head at the Saharanpur platform and grinned. 
• The ticket collector noticed him and insisted on charging the fare for him, for Grandfather had not bought a ticket for the animal. 
• As per the guidelines of the railways, the fare could be charged only for dogs. So the ticket collector insisted on calling Toto a dog and charged the fare for him by placing him under the category of dogs.

Q5: How did Toto create problems for Grandfather on the way to Saharanpur?

Ans: 

• Grandfather had to zip up Toto in a big black canvas kit bag to carry him to Saharanpur from Dehradun. 
• It was ensured that he could not escape or get his hands out or bite through the strong canvas once the bag was closed. However, Toto was so restless that he tried to come out of the bag by jumping inside it. 
• This made the bag roll on the floor and jump into the air. It drew the attention of onlookers at the Dehra Dun platform, and it became quite difficult for Grandfather to keep his presence a secret. 
• On reaching Saharanpur, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag and grinned widely at the ticket collector. 
• The secret of his presence got revealed and cost Grandfather three rupees that had to be paid as fare.

Q6: How did Toto like to have a bath in winter? How did he once get into serious trouble while trying to have a hot-water bath?

Ans: 

• Bathing in a large bowl of warm water on cold winter evenings was a treat for Toto. 
• He would cunningly test the temperature of the water brought by the grandmother with his hand and gradually step into the bath, first on one foot, then the other, until he was into the water up to his neck.
• Once comfortable, he would take the soap on his hands or feet and rub himself all over. 
• When the water became cold, he would get out and quickly run to the kitchen fire to dry himself. If someone tried to laugh at him, he would refuse to go on with the bath. 
• One day, his fondness for a hot water bath got him into serious trouble. He noticed a kitchen kettle on the fire and, having nothing better to do, decided to remove the lid. 
• Finding the water just warm enough for a bath, he got in. 
• It was fine for a while, but soon he began hopping in and out of the kettle because the water had gotten really hot, while outside the kettle, it was too cold for him. 
• That day, Toto would have boiled himself to death had Grandmother not arrived in time to rescue him.

Q7: What human values do you see in Grandmother after reading this story

Ans:

• Grandmother appeared to be a tough woman. She always fussed when her Grandfather brought home some new bird or animal, but this fuss would disappear as soon as she got into a good mood. 
• She accepted Toto as the new pet after a few days. When Toto tore the narrator’s school blazer to shreds, the narrator’s first worry was what Grandmother would say. 
• He thought so because she gave the impression of being a strict disciplinarian. However, her soft heart had compassion for all. Toto was mischievous and destructive since day one. 
• Still, Grandmother would overlook everything and give him a bowl of warm water to bathe. Again, the Grandmother rescued Toto from getting boiled in the kettle. 
• Thus, it can be seen that Grandmother had a kind heart, although she appeared to be tough outwardly.

Q8: Grandfather possessed the values of childlike simplicity. Do you agree/disagree? Give reasons.

Ans: 

• Grandfather had a private zoo with different animals – a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, and a tame squirrel. But his childlike love for animals made him buy another animal, a monkey, as a pet. 
• Grandmother did not like this habit of her husband, so he kept his new pet a secret from his wife. 
• How he tried to hide Toto or admire him as clever when the former shredded the narrator’s school blazer shows that although the elderly, Grandfather was as simple as a child. 
• Again, when he hides Toto in a bag on the way to Saharanpur and produces a tortoise from his pocket before the ticket collector, it confirms his childlike simplicity.

Q9:  Grandfather had kept many animals in his private zoo and cared for them. Does this show that we should care about animals?

Ans: 

• Grandfather was a kind-hearted person. He was an animal lover by choice. He had his private zoo in his house. 
• He kept bringing home new animals that he liked. He was a fully determined person. He had a lot of patience and took everything positively. 
• When he brought Toto, he felt satisfied. He wanted to keep Toto with other animals, but Toto kept disturbing other animals. 
• So, Grandfather transferred him frequently from one place to another to make Toto adjust to the other animals. He was a man of a strong mind and body. 
• His taste made him a naturalist. He treated his pet animals as his family members.

Q10: Animals should be treated with love and respect. Comment on this statement with the lesson ‘The Adventures of Toto’ as the background.

Ans: 

• It is right that animals should be treated with love and respect. It is not right to show cruelty towards them. 
• Even wild animals should be treated with care. In the story "The Adventures of Toto", a grandfather shows love and kindness towards animals. 
• He had set up a mini-zoo in his house where he had kept some animals. He also tried to give Toto a comfortable life. 
• Since pet animals give us company, we should look after them with love and concern.