The Adventure of Toto, Class 9, NCERT Question Answer
ABOUT THE LESSON
In "The Adventure of Toto" by Ruskin Bond, the narrator describes the humorous yet chaotic experiences of his grandfather, an animal lover who buys a mischievous monkey named Toto for five rupees. Toto’s bright eyes and pearly teeth hide a wildly destructive nature; he shreds curtains, tears wallpaper, and even nearly boils himself alive.
The text highlights the central theme that wild animals are often unsuitable as domestic pets. Despite Grandfather's patience and affection, Toto’s frequent tantrums and the financial loss he causes—through broken dishes and ruined clothes—eventually force the family to realize that he cannot be tamed. The story concludes with Toto being sold back to his original owner, underscoring the necessity of letting wild creatures live in their natural or appropriate environments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruskin Bond is an eminent Indian author of British descent, widely regarded as one of the most beloved icons of contemporary Indian literature. Born in 1934 in Kasauli, he has spent most of his life in the serene hills of Mussoorie, which serves as the primary setting for much of his work.
Bond is celebrated for his simple yet evocative prose, often exploring themes of nature, childhood, and the quiet beauty of rural life. His contribution to literature has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Shri, and the Padma Bhushan. His writing remains a staple in Indian school curricula, captivating readers with its warmth, wit, and deep empathy for both humans and animals.
1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
Ans- Grandfather saw Toto tied to a tonga-driver's feeding trough. The monkey looked so out of place and miserable there that Grandfather, who had a penchant for collecting unusual pets for his private zoo, decided to buy him for the sum of five rupees.
2. "Toto was a pretty monkey." In what sense is Toto pretty?
Ans--Toto's "prettiness" refers to his physical features that made him look bright and lively: He had bright eyes that sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows. His pearly white teeth were often displayed in a smile that frightened elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. His long tail added to his good looks and served as a "third hand," allowing him to hang from branches and scoop up delicacies.
4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learned to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Ans--Toto takes a bath by first testing the temperature of the water with his hand, then stepping into the tub—one foot first, then the other—until he is neck-deep in water. Once comfortable, he rubs himself all over with soap.
He learned this by watching the narrator (the author) performing the same routine. This shows Toto’s keen ability to imitate human behavior.
Toto once found a large kitchen kettle left on the fire to boil for tea. Finding the water warm enough for a bath, he got inside, but as the water began to heat up, he was unable to escape. He was saved only when Grandmother arrived and pulled him out of the kettle, just as he was hopping up and down in the near-boiling water.
5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
Ans--Despite Grandfather’s affection for animals, Toto proved to be a heavy liability. He was destructively mischievous, frequently tearing clothes, curtains, and expensive wallpaper. He broke dishes and caused continuous financial loss to the family, which was not wealthy. His presence caused unrest among the other animals in the private zoo. Ultimately, the family realized that his wild instincts outweighed his charm as a pet.
2- marks Question Answer:
1. Why did the author decide to buy Toto ?
Grandfather decided to buy Toto because he felt a deep sense of empathy for the animal. According to the text, he saw the "pretty" monkey kept tied to a tonga-driver's feeding trough, where it looked extremely out of place and miserable. Grandfather, being an avid animal lover with a penchant for adding unusual specimens to his private zoo, felt that the monkey deserved a better home and decided to purchase him for five rupees.
2. Why could not Toto and Nana become friends ?
Ans--Toto and Nana could not become friends because of Toto's persistent mischief and his habit of teasing the other animals. On Toto's first night in the stable, Grandfather found him clinging to Nana’s long ears with his sharp little teeth. Toto’s constant physical harassment and refusal to let the poor donkey eat or rest in peace meant that they "never became friends." Their relationship remained one of the aggressor and the victim, as Toto’s wild instincts were incompatible with Nana’s calm, domestic nature.
3.How does Toto become a problem to grandfather while going to Saharanpur ?
Ans-- Toto’s mischievous nature made him impossible to leave home secretly or with other pets. During the journey, he poked his head out of the bag and grinned at the ticket collector. The startled official classified Toto as a "dog" because there was no specific fare category for monkeys in the railway rules. As a result, Grandfather was forced to pay a three-rupee fine as a fare for Toto's travel.
4. How did Toto manage to escape from the closet where he was hidden?
Ans— Toto was temporarily hidden in a small closet opening into the narrator’s bedroom wall. To escape, he used his sheer strength and mischievous nature to wrench the peg out of the socket in the wall, tore down the ornamental wallpaper, and shredded the narrator's school blazer into tiny pieces.
5. Why was Toto’s presence in the house kept a secret from Grandmother?
Ans— Grandmother always fussed and got upset whenever Grandfather brought home a new bird or animal. To avoid her anger and another argument, Grandfather and the narrator decided to keep Toto’s arrival a secret until she was in a particularly good and pleasant mood.
EXTRA QUESTION -ANSWERS (1 mark each)
1. From whom did Grandfather buy Toto and for how much?
Ans— Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees.
2. Why did Grandfather decide to buy the monkey?
Ans— Grandfather decided to buy Toto because the monkey looked miserable tied to a feeding trough, and he wanted to add him to his private zoo.
3. What served as a "third hand" for Toto?
Ans— Toto’s long tail served as a third hand, helping him hang from branches and reach for delicacies.
4. Why was Toto’s presence kept a secret from Grandmother?
Ans— It was kept a secret because Grandmother always fussed and got upset whenever Grandfather brought home a new bird or animal.
5. Where was Toto hidden on his first day in the house?
Ans— He was hidden in a small closet opening into the narrator’s bedroom wall.
6. Who was Nana?
Ans— Nana was the family’s domestic donkey who lived in the stable.
7. How did Grandfather carry Toto to Saharanpur?
Ans— Grandfather carried Toto inside a big, black canvas kit-bag with some straw at the bottom.
8. How much fare did Grandfather have to pay for Toto at the railway station?
Ans— Grandfather had to pay a fare of three rupees for Toto.
9. Why did the ticket collector classify Toto as a dog?
Ans— The ticket collector classified Toto as a dog because there was no specific category or fare rule for monkeys in the railway guidelines.
10. Who finally rescued Toto when he almost boiled himself alive in the kettle?
Ans— Grandmother rescued Toto just as he was hopping up and down in the heating water.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What was the price Grandfather paid to buy Toto from the tonga-driver?
A) Three rupees
B) Five rupees
C) Ten rupees
D) Two rupees
Ans— B) Five rupees
2. Toto’s bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set:
A) Wrinkles
B) Eyebrows
C) Lashes
D) Cheeks
Ans— B) Eyebrows
3. What did Toto do to the narrator's school blazer when he was hidden in the closet?
A) He hid it under the bed
B) He wore it
C) He shredded it into tiny pieces
D) He threw it out the window
Ans— C) He shredded it into tiny pieces
4. Why was Toto carried to Saharanpur inside a black canvas kit-bag?
A) To keep him warm
B) So that he could sleep peacefully
C) Because he was too lazy to walk
D) To prevent him from escaping or biting through
Ans— D) To prevent him from escaping or biting through
5. How much extra fare did the ticket collector charge Grandfather for Toto?
A) Five rupees
B) Three rupees
C) Four rupees
D) One rupee
Ans— B) Three rupees
6. The ticket collector classified Toto as a:
A) Monkey
B) Cat
C) Dog
D) Bird
Ans— C) Dog
7. Who was Nana in the story?
A) The family dog
B) The narrator's grandmother
C) The family's domestic donkey
D) Another mischievous monkey
Ans— C) The family's domestic donkey
8. From whom did Toto learn the habit of testing the water temperature before taking a bath?
A) Grandfather
B) Grandmother
C) The narrator
D) The tonga-driver
Ans— C) The narrator
9. What did Grandmother do when she found Toto hopping up and down in the large kitchen kettle?
A) She laughed at him
B) She pulled him out of the kettle
C) She gave him soap
D) She turned off the stove
Ans— B) She pulled him out of the kettle
10. At the end of the story, to whom did Grandfather sell Toto back?
A) A zoo keeper
B) A circus manager
C) The original tonga-driver
D) One of his neighbors
Ans— C) The original tonga-driver
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