“Adventures of Toto” is a story in Class 9 NCERT Supplementary Reader “Moments”. Here we are giving answers to textbook exercise questions. If you want to see other lessons or other related study materials then click here.
Textbook Exercise Question & Answers
Think About It
1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
Ans. Toto comes to grandfather’s private zoo after he buys him from a tonga-driver for five rupees. The tonga-driver used to keep Toto tied to a feeding-trough, but Grandfather decides to add the monkey to his private zoo.
2. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?
Ans.
Ans. Toto is considered pretty because he has bright eyes that sparkle with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows, and he has pearly white teeth that are often displayed in a smile. Despite his dried-up looking hands, he has quick and wicked fingers, and his tail adds to his good looks, making him visually appealing to Grandfather.
3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
Ans. Grandfather takes Toto to Saharanpur because he has to leave Dehra Dun to collect his pension. He carries Toto in a big black canvas kit-bag with straw at the bottom, which becomes Toto’s new abode during the trip. However, at the railway turnstile, Toto pokes his head out of the bag, and the ticket-collector mistakes him for a dog and charges three rupees as his fare.
4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Ans. Toto takes a bath by first cunningly testing the temperature of the warm water provided by Grandmother. He then steps into the bath gradually, one foot after the other, similar to how the narrator does it. Once in the water up to his neck, he takes the soap in his hands or feet and rubs himself all over. When the water becomes cold, he runs to the kitchen-fire to dry himself.
Toto has learned this bathing behaviour by observing the narrator.
Toto almost boils himself alive when he finds a large kitchen kettle on the fire, and thinking the water is just warm enough for a bath, he gets in with his head sticking out from the open kettle. As the water starts to boil, he raises himself a little, but finding it cold outside, he sits back down. He continues this hopping up and down until Grandmother arrives and rescues him.
5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
Ans. The author says, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long” because he was extremely mischievous and destructive. Toto had a habit of tearing things apart, destroying clothes, dishes, curtains, and wallpaper. The family couldn’t afford the frequent losses caused by Toto’s mischief, so they realized they couldn’t keep him as a pet for an extended period.
Talk About It
Do you have a pet? Is your pet mischievous? Tell the class about it.
Answer: Students should attempt this question themselves. Here we are giving you a sample answer.
Yes, I have a pet parrot named ‘Mitthu’. It is a little bit mischievous. Let me tell you about it:
Meet ‘Mitthu’ – a colourful and talkative parrot who became the beloved pet of our family. With vibrant green feathers and a personality to match, Mitthu brought laughter and joy into our lives every day.
From the moment we brought Mitthu home, we knew we were in for an adventure. Mitthu had a knack for mimicking voices and sounds, and his repertoire grew with each passing day. He could imitate the doorbell, the telephone ring, and even the sound of our family cat, much to the confusion of our feline friend!
One of Mitthu’s favourite mischievous acts was playing pranks on unsuspecting visitors. As soon as someone stepped into our house, Mitthu would start mimicking their voice or greeting in a comical way. It never failed to catch people off guard, leading to moments of hilarity and amusement.
Mitthu also loved to steal shiny objects, like keys and jewellery. He would swoop down from his perch and snatch a pair of earrings or a shiny necklace, quickly flying to a hiding spot where we would have to coax him to give it back. But how could you stay mad at such a clever and entertaining little bird?
His mischievousness extended to mealtimes as well. Whenever we had guests over for dinner, Mitthu would make sure to join us at the dining table. He would try to mimic the sounds of cutlery and plates, making it sound like he was eating with us. And of course, he had a knack for stealing food whenever someone left their plate unattended for even a moment!
Mitthu’s playful antics didn’t stop there. He loved playing peek-a-boo and would hide behind curtains or under cushions, popping out unexpectedly and surprising anyone who happened to walk by. His charming tricks always brought smiles to our faces.
Despite his mischievous nature, Mitthu was also incredibly affectionate. He would snuggle up to us, mimic words of love, and even give kisses. His mischievousness added an extra layer of fun to his lovable personality, making him the heart and soul of our family.
In the end, Mitthu taught us that having a mischievous pet can be a delightful experience. His playful antics, funny imitations, and affectionate gestures made him an integral part of our family, bringing laughter and joy into our lives every day.