Adventures of Toto | Class IX | English | CBSE

NCERT Solution

Lesson Architecture

1. NCERT Solution

2. Theme

3. Story At A Glance

4. Recapitulation.

THINK ABOUT IT

1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?

Ans. Grandfather being an animal lover saw a monkey with a tonga-driver. It was tied to a feeding-trough and appeared to be out of place there. Therefore, he decided to buy Toto from the tonga-driver at a cost of five rupees.

2. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?

Ans. He had bright, shiny eyes which were full of mischief. The eyebrows were deeply set on his face. His teeth were like pearls. He had a gracious tail which was like a third hand for the grandfather. His childlike quality made him pretty.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Ans. Toto was shifted to the grandfather's zoo, which comprised of a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a squirrel and the writer’s pet goat.Toto was very mischievous. He did not let the animals sleep at night. Therefore, the grand father decided to take him to Saharanpur.

The grandfather carried Toto in a special bag made of a strong material - canvas. He placed some dry grass at the bottom of the bag and carried it along with him.

The ticket collector called Toto a dog as from the bag Toto gave the impression of a dog to the ticket collector.

4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?

Ans: In the winter season, Toto enjoyed having a warm bath. He would pretend to be selfish and before starting his bath, he would check the temperature of the water.

He has learnt to do this from the grandfather and stepped into the tub, one foot at a time. Finally, he would would sit in the water with his face out of it.

One day Toto got inside a kettle with water boiling in it on fire. But when the water became intolerably hot, he jumped up and down. The grandmother came to his rescue and pulled him out in half-boiled condition.

5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?

Ans. Toto was a mischief monger. He tore clothes, curtains, wallpapers and broke dishes. He also disturbed other pets very much. Toto’s mischief grew by the day and grandfather realized that they could not keep him at home. Finally, he found the same tonga driver and sold Toto back to him for a sum of three rupees.

TALK ABOUT IT

Q. Do you have a pet? Is your pet mischievous? Tell the class about it.

Ans. It's a subjective answer. Please write about your individual experiences on the notebook and get it checked by the teacher.

THEME

• The story describes how author’s grandfather was fond of animals.

• The story revolves around Toto-a monkey- whom the grandfather bought from a tonga driver.

• The pranks played by Toto have been narrated in a humorous way, which makes the story very interesting.

• The story also describes the love and empathy that human beings share with the kingdom of animals.

STORY SEQUENCE

• The writer’s grandfather bought a monkey named Toto from a tonga driver by paying five rupees to him.

• When the writer’s grandfather saw the monkey, he wanted to increase the collection of animals in his zoo at home.

• He had bright, shiny eyes which were full of mischief. The eyebrows were deeply set on his face.

• His teeth were like pearls. Many ladies belonging to the Anglo - Indian community got scared when they saw his teeth which were displayed when he smiled.

• Toto’s tail was like a third hand for him. It helped him hang from the branch of a tree. He also used it to lift objects which were beyond his hand’s reach.

• Grandmother always fussed when Grandfather brought home some new bird or animal.

• The writer and his grandfather secured Toto in a little cupboard in the writer’s room. In order to be sure that Toto did not escape, they tied him to a hook in the wall.

• Toto was shifted to the servant quarter. He was put in a cage. He would live with the other pets in grandfather's zoo.

• The zoo comprised of a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a squirrel and the writer’s pet goat.

• Toto was very mischievous. He did not let the animals sleep at night. The writer’s grandfather had to leave for Saharanpur the next day.

• The writer was disappointed as he could not accompany his grandfather and Toto on the trip.

• He had got a special bag for Toto. It was made of a strong material - canvas. He placed some dry grass at the bottom of the bag.

• On the trip, the bag would be Toto’s home as he would live in it.

• Neither could he come out of the opening as it was closed with a zipper, nor could it bite the strong canvas material in order to run away.

• Still, Toto made unsuccessful attempts to come out of the bag.

• At the Saharanpur railway station, the writer’s grandfather was taking out his ticket to cross the turnstile.

• At that time, Toto peeked out of the bag and smiled at the ticket collector.

• The ticket collector was astonished to see a monkey in grandfather's back.

• The ticket collector was firm and grandfather had to pay 3 rupees for Toto’s ticket.

• Grandfather was unsuccessful in explaining to the ticket collector that Toto was a monkey and not a dog.

• He insisted that Toto was not even an animal with four feet. But the ticket collector was firm that Toto fell in the category of dogs.

• Grandfather had to pay 3 rupees for Toto’s ticket.

• The writer’s grandmother finally came to know of Toto’s presence in the house.

• She allotted him space in the stable along with the family donkey Nana.

• On the first night in the stable, grandfather visited Toto. He found Nana restless, pulling its rope in order to stay away from the heap of hay.

• In the winter season, Toto enjoyed having a warm bath. He would pretend to be selfish and before starting his bath, he would check the temperature of the water.

• He would copy the writer and stepped into the tub, one foot at a time.

• Finally, he would would sit in the water with his face out of it.

• The writer recollects another incident when Toto created a lot of mischief. At lunchtime, a dish of rice was placed on the dining table. When the family reached to eat, they found Toto eating it.

• The writer’s grandmother screamed at Toto and In response, he threw a plate at her.When the aunts tried to catch Toto, he threw a glass of water in their face.

• When the grandfather arrived, Toto left the place through a window with the dish of rice along with him.

• He sat on a branch of the Jackfruit tree, determined to eat all the rice.

• As the grandmother had screamed on him, he wanted to annoy her further and so, after eating the rice, he threw the dish. It broke into several pieces.

• He tore clothes, curtains, wallpapers and broke dishes.

• Toto’s mischiefs grew by the day and grandfather realized that they could not keep him at home.

• Finally, he found the same tonga driver and sold Toto back to him for a sum of three rupees

Recapitulation

• The story describes how author’s grandfather was fond of animals.

• He bought Toto-a monkey- from a tonga driver for five rupees.

• Once on a tour to Saharanpur in a canvas kit bag with grandfather, he poked his head out and came to notice of ticket collector. Grandfather had to pay three rupees as a fine.

• Toto was given a shelter near Nana, a family donkey in the stable. But he was pulling its rope in order to stay away from the heap of hay.

• Toto’s mischiefs grew by the day and grandfather realized that they could not keep him at home.

• Finally, he found the same tonga driver and sold Toto back to him for a sum of three rupees