ADVENTURE OF TOTO

1. How does Toto come to the grandfather’s private zoo? (3/4 marks)

Answer: Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga driver for five rupees. The monkey was tied to a feeding-trough and looked so out of place that Grandfather decided to bring him home. He wanted to add Toto to his private zoo. To keep it a secret from Grandmother, Toto was tied in a closet. However, he tore the wallpaper and ruined the narrator’s blazer. Grandfather wasn’t angry—instead, he was pleased with Toto’s cleverness and decided to keep him as a pet.

2. “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty? (3/4 marks)

Answer: Toto was a pretty monkey because his bright eyes sparkled with mischief under deep-set eyebrows. His white teeth often showed in a smile that sometimes scared elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. His hands looked dry, like they had been dried in the sun, but his fingers were fast and naughty. His tail added to his good looks and also worked like a third hand. He could use it to hang from branches and even pick up things easily.

3. Why does Grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur? (2marks)

Answer: Grandfather took Toto to Saharanpur because he was going there to collect his pension and couldn’t leave Toto at home. Toto had already caused trouble in the servants’ quarters by disturbing the other pets. So, Grandfather carried him in a strong canvas bag with straw inside to keep him safe and prevent him from escaping during the journey.

4. How does Grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur? (2 marks)

Answer: Grandfather took Toto to Saharanpur in a strong black canvas kit-bag with straw at the bottom to keep him comfortable. Toto couldn’t escape because the bag was tightly closed, and he couldn’t bite through the canvas. However, his movements made the bag roll and jump on the platform, drawing a curious crowd at the railway station.

4. Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog? (2 marks)

Answer: The ticket collector called Toto a dog because he had to charge a fare for the animal. Even though Grandfather tried to explain that Toto was a monkey, not a dog or even a quadruped, the ticket collector insisted and made Grandfather pay three rupees as Toto’s fare.

NOTE: Quadruped means: An animal that walks on four legs.

5. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? (2+2 marks)

Answer: Toto enjoyed warm baths in winter. He tested the water with his hand, then stepped in slowly, one foot at a time, just like humans. He rubbed himself all over with soap and dried himself near the kitchen fire.

Toto had observed the narrator taking a bath and cleverly copied the same steps. He learnt to test the water, enter it slowly, and even use soap. His actions showed how intelligent and observant he was, behaving like a human.

6. How does Toto almost boil himself alive? (2 marks)

Answer: One day, Toto found a large kettle of warm water on the fire and decided to take a bath in it. At first, the water felt pleasant, but it soon started to boil. Toto continued jumping in and out, confused by the temperature. Fortunately, Grandmother noticed him in time and pulled him out before he got fully boiled.

7. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”? (3/4 marks)

Answer: The author says this because Toto was very mischievous and caused a lot of damage. He tore clothes, broke dishes, destroyed wallpaper, and even scared people. He was clever but also very naughty. The family was not well-off and couldn’t afford to repair the things Toto ruined. Though Grandfather liked him, they realised Toto was too wild to be kept as a pet. In the end, Grandfather sold him back to the tonga driver for only three rupees.

EXTRA QUESTION:

1. Why did Grandfather think the monkey looked out of place at the tongo driver’s place?

Answer: Toto was tied to a feeding-trough and looked uncomfortable, unhappy, and out of place. Grandfather noticed the monkey’s bright eyes and clever expression and felt he didn’t belong there. This made Grandfather feel sorry for him and decide to bring Toto home and add him to his own private zoo.

2. How did Toto behave when he was first kept in the closet?

Answer: When Toto was tied in the closet, he created complete chaos. He pulled off the decorative wallpaper, tore it into pieces, and also destroyed the narrator’s school blazer. He even tried to escape by pulling the peg from the wall. This showed that Toto was very naughty and difficult to handle.

3. What damage did Toto cause to the narrator’s school blazer?

Answer: Toto had been left in the closet where the narrator’s school blazer was hanging. In his mischievous play, Toto tore the blazer into shreds with his sharp teeth and quick fingers. The blazer was completely ruined, showing Toto’s destructive nature and how unsuitable he was for being kept indoors.

4. How was Toto’s tail useful to him, and what did Grandfather say about it?

Answer: Toto’s tail acted like a third hand. He could use it to hang from branches, lift things, or even scoop up food. Grandfather admired this and said that a tail like Toto’s added to his good looks and usefulness. It showed how clever and playful Toto was as a monkey.

5. What tricks or habits showed that Toto was a clever monkey?

Answer: Toto tested bathwater with his hand before stepping in. He used his tail to pick up food, tore clothes, and opened bags. He also grinned at the ticket-collector and escaped from closed spaces. All these actions showed that Toto was not only mischievous but also very clever and observant.