I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30– 40 words).
1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don’t forget the dog!).
2. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
4. What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
5. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
6. What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
9. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
10. While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(ii) They also broke a plate.
(iii) They squashed a tomato.
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(v) They stepped on a banana.
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vii) They stepped on things.
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
(ix) They upset almost everything.
(x) They were very good at packing.
(I): 1. There are mainly four characters in this narrative. They are Jerome, George, Harris and Montmorency.
2. The narrator volunteered to do packing because as he thought that he was the best packer. He was very proud of his packing and wanted to show it to everyone.
3. George and Harris fully accepted jerome’s suggestion by their will. George smoked a pipe and ‘’spread himself over the easy- chair’’ , while Harris put his legs onto the table and lit a cigar. No, Jerome wasn’t very happy and felt irritated by both of their reactions.
4. The real intension of Jerome was that when he offered to pack was to show his capability through his supervision skills.
5. After the bag was closed and strapped, Harris found that Jerome had not packed the boots. He waited till then to ask about the boots because he wanted Jerome to make realize his mistake and ridicule his packing skills for which he was very proud.
6. The worst idea that happened to Jerome a little later was that whether or not he packed his toothbrush. Whenever he travelled he always forgot whether he had packed his toothbrush or not. This thought haunted him to the core and made his life a mess.
7. While things were turning upside down out of the bag and putting the things back one by one Jerome finally found the tooth brush inside a boot.
8. Jerome had to open again the packed bag because of his habit of forgetting things. As he reopens the bag, he had forgotten to pack the boots. He again unpacked the bag when he realized he had packed his tobacco- pouch in.
9. George and Harris both offered to pack the hampers because Jerome was talking too much at that time and was also getting late. Both of them also wanted to show their packing skill to jerome.
10. (i) true
(ii) false
(iii) true
(iv) true
(v)false
(vi) true
(vii) true
(viii) false
(ix) true
(x) false
Popular Questions of Class 9 English - Beehive
- Q:-
Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.
- Q:-
II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.)
1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
(ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)2. (i) The person he wants to marry
(ii) The person he actually marries
3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
(ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm
Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer. - Q:-
When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
- Q:-
Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
- Q:-
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
- Q:-
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
3. What shows her concern for the environment?
4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this? - Q:-
Now use these adverbs to fill in the blanks in the sentences below.
(i) The report must be read so that performance can be improved.
(ii) At the interview, Sameer answered our questions , shrugging his shoulders.
(iii) We all behave when we are tired or hungry.
(iv) The teacher shook her head when Ravi lied to her.
(v) I forgot about it.
(vi) When I complimented Revathi on her success, she just smiled and turned away.(vii) The President of the Company is busy and will not be able to meet you.
(viii) I finished my work so that I could go out to play. - Q:-
I. Answer these questions.
1. “At last a sympathetic audience.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Why does he say it?
(iii) Is he sarcastic or serious?
2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?
3. “I said it with bullets.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) What does it mean?
(iii) Is it the truth? What is the speaker’s reason for saying this?
4. What is Gerrard’s profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer.
5. “You’ll soon stop being smart.”
(i) Who says this?(ii) Why does the speaker say it?
(iii) What according to the speaker will stop Gerrard from being smart?
6. “They can’t hang me twice.”
(i) Who says this?
(ii) Why does the speaker say it?
7. “A mystery I propose to explain.” What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain?
8. “This is your big surprise.”
(i) Where has this been said in the play?
(ii) What is the surprise? - Q:-
III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100–150 words each.
1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this? - Q:-
Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words)
1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is described.)
Recently Viewed Questions of Class 9 English - Beehive
- Q:-
Had Margie ever seen a book before?
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1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
2. Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing un – or in – to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning).
• I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks. (un + distinguished)
• My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts.(in + essential)
• The area was completely unaffected by the war.(un + affected)
• He should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. (in + equality, in + tolerance) Now form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un- or in-. The prefix in- can also have the forms il-, ir-, or im- (for example: illiterate –il + literate, impractical –im + practical, irrational – ir + rational). You may consult a dictionary if you wish.
- Q:-
Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.
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Some verbs of reporting are given in the box. Choose the appropriate verbs and fill in the blanks in the following sentences. were complaining shouted replied remarked ordered suggested
(i) “I am not afraid,”_____ the woman.
(ii) “Leave me alone,” my mother .______
(iii) The children______ that the roads were crowded and noisy.
(iv) “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all,” ______the master.
(v) “Let’s go and look at the school ground,______” the sports teacher.
(vi) The traffic police______ all the passers-by to keep off the road. - Q:-
Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).
- Q:-
Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine
(i) before going to his office?
(ii) after coming back from his office?
(iii) on Sundays?
4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better? - Q:-
IV. Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions. (Look in the paragraphs indicated.)
1. took to be true without proof (1):____
2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2):_______
3. the usual way of doing things (3):_____
4. a strong desire arising from within (5):________
5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7):________ - Q:-
Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
- Q:-
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
(i) The heart is a pump that (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart (contract). This (force) the blood out into the arteries, which (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it (dig) a pit and (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule (dry) and (harden), but when rain (come), the mud (dissolve) and the lungfish (swim) away.
(iii) MAHESH : We have to organise a class party for our teacher. (Do) anyone play an instrument?VIPUL : Rohit___ (play) the flute.
MAHESH :______ (Do) he also act?
VIPUL : No, he_____ (compose) music.
MAHESH : That’s wonderful!_____ - Q:-
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
3. What shows her concern for the environment?
4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?
- NCERT Chapter