Class 9 English Chapter 9 Question Answers - If I were you

Q1: Why does the intruder say, “They can’t hang me twice”?
Ans: The intruder makes this statement to convey his lack of fear towards the consequences of committing another crime, as he has already committed murder and expects to be hanged for it. He believes that since he can't be hanged twice, he has nothing to lose by killing Gerrard.

Q2: What did Gerrard tell the Intruder about his life?
Ans: Gerrard informed the Intruder that he was not a Sunday School Teacher but a criminal who had committed murder. He revealed that the police were pursuing him, which surprised the Intruder who had intended to assume Gerrard's identity for a peaceful life.

Q3: What is Gerrard’s profession? How do you know it?
Ans: Gerrard is a playwright, employed by a theater group. This is evident from Gerrard's statement at the play's conclusion: "Sorry, I can’t let you have the props in time for rehearsal. I think I’ll put it in my next play."

Q4: A mystery I propose to explain. What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain?
Ans: Gerrard introduces this phrase to reveal his own mysterious situation to the Intruder. He discloses that he, too, is a criminal who has committed murder and is now hiding from the police, explaining why he is anxious to leave the location.

Q5: Why did the Intruder say, “I don’t think you’ll be pleased for long?”
Ans: The Intruder expresses this sentiment because he intends to murder Gerrard and take his place, impersonating him for his own benefit. He believes Gerrard's potential happiness will be short-lived once he executes his evil plan.

Q6: Why was the police after the Intruder?
Ans: The police were pursuing the Intruder because he had killed a policeman. He was a criminal on the run, which led him to intrude into Gerrard's cottage with the intention of assuming Gerrard's identity.

Q7: How did Gerrard convince the Intruder that his plan would fail?
Ans: Gerrard's intelligence and quick thinking enabled him to see through the Intruder's plan. He pointed out that the plan was flawed because Gerrard himself was a criminal being pursued by the police. Even if the Intruder impersonated him, he would still be arrested due to Gerrard's criminal status.

Q8: How did Gerrard get rid of the Intruder in the play ‘If I Were You’? What would you have done if you were in his place? What is the central idea of the play?
Ans: In the play 'If I Were You,' Gerrard, a playwright, cleverly outwits the intruder who intended to impersonate him. Gerrard pretends to be a criminal himself and offers to help the intruder escape from the police. He leads the intruder towards the garage and locks him inside a cupboard. If I were in Gerrard's place, I would have likely taken a similar approach to deceive and trap the intruder. The central idea of the play revolves around wit, deception, and the idea that one can outsmart even the cleverest of criminals through quick thinking and presence of mind.

Q9: Imagine you are Gerrard. Tell your friend what happened when the intruder broke into your house. Do you agree that crime cannot escape the law?
Ans: Hey there, I wanted to share an intriguing incident with you. An intruder broke into my cottage one day, resembling me in appearance. He revealed his plan to impersonate me and escape the law. I quickly concocted a story, convincing him that I was a criminal too, expecting trouble from the police. I managed to lead him into a trap, eventually handing him over to the police. This experience reaffirmed my belief that crime cannot escape the law; sooner or later, justice catches up with wrongdoers.

Q10: Do you think the intruder was smarter than Gerrard? Why/Why not? Which quality of Gerrard made him smarter than the intruder?
Ans: No, I believe the intruder wasn't smarter than Gerrard. Despite his attempts to extract information, he fell into Gerrard's clever trap. Gerrard's attributes of coolness, patience, tolerance, and sense of humor made him smarter. He used his presence of mind to deceive the intruder, while the intruder's impatience and shortsightedness ultimately led to his downfall.

Q11: Presence of mind and patience are the two values that help a person at the time of adversity and danger. How did these two attributes of Gerrard help him get rid of the Intruder?
Ans: Presence of mind and patience proved to be Gerrard's saving grace during the encounter with the intruder. These qualities allowed him to think on his feet, concoct a convincing story, and maintain his composure even in a dangerous situation. Gerrard's patience enabled him to lead the intruder towards the trap without raising suspicion. In essence, these two attributes were instrumental in Gerrard's successful ruse and ultimately helped him rid himself of the intruder's threat.