Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of Class 9 English textbook, chapter 1 Tales of Bhola Grandpa by Manoj Das which is part of the syllabus of students studying under West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
Bhola Grandpa was a humorous and forgetful character living at the edge of a village with his wife. A bokal tree near their hut housed a troop of monkeys, which the couple tolerated. One moonlit night, during a foggy return from a festival, Bhola Grandpa mistakenly thought he was holding his grandson’s fingers but realized he wasn’t and wailed loudly. Searchers later found the boy safely under a cow’s belly. Another tale involved Bhola Grandpa imagining pirates burying treasure. He excitedly convinced others to search for it, only to admit it was a dream after hours of effort.
In the Sunderbans, known for its Royal Bengal tigers, Bhola Grandpa faced a terrifying encounter. Returning from a weekly market, he heard a tiger growl and climbed a banyan tree for safety. The tiger circled below until dawn, but when Grandpa descended and casually asked for water, the tiger stretched and yawned, leaving the people astonished. Only then did Grandpa realize the tiger was still nearby, and he fled in fright.
Bhola Grandpa lived a long, adventurous life but passed away at ninety-five. His wife, aged eighty, mourned deeply, remarking that perhaps he had simply forgotten to breathe. These stories reflect his comical and endearing nature, bringing laughter and memories to those who knew him.
Video tutorial
Textbook solutions
Exercise 1 (MCQs)
1. In the bokal tree there lived
(a) crows
(b) monkeys
(c) tigers
(d) sparrows
Answer: b. monkeys
2. On the way back from the festival, Bhola Grandpa tightly held on to the two fingers of his
(a) son
(b) cousin
(c) grandson
(d) nephew
Answer: c. grandson
3. A gang of pirates were burying a
(a) large box
(b) small box
(c) large bag
(d) small bag
Answer: a. large box
4. Bhola Grandpa was returning from the
(a) yearly market
(b) monthly market
(c) daily market
(d) weekly market
Answer: d. weekly market
5. Bhola Grandpa died at the age of
(a) eighty-five
(b) ninety-five
(c) fifty-five
(d) seventy-five
Answer: b. ninety-five
Exercise 2 (short)
Answer the following questions within fifteen words:
(a). When did Bhola Grandpa let out a loud wail?
Answer: When he realized he was holding air instead of his grandson’s fingers.
(b). Where had the grandson found a cosy shelter?
Answer: Under a cow’s belly.
(c). What request did Bhola Grandpa make to the first man he saw on the mound?
Answer: Bhola Grandpa requested him for some water to drink.
(d). How old was Bhola Grandpa’s wife when he died?
Answer: She was eighty years old.
Exercise 3 (medium)
Answer the following questions within twenty-five words:
(a). Why was no real treasure found under the sand dunes?
Answer: There was no real treasure because it was a dream Bhola Grandpa had during his midday nap.
(b). What did the tiger do after Bhola Grandpa had climbed up the banyan tree?
Answer: The tiger roared, circled the tree about a hundred times, and then settled under a bush without taking its eyes off him.
(c). What was the reason of Bhola Grandpa’s death according to his wife?
Answer: According to his wife, Bhola Grandpa died because he must have forgotten to breathe.
Exercise 4 (narration)
Change the mode of narration of the following sentences:
(a) Bulbuli said to his friend, “Will you come tomorrow?”
Answer: Bulbuli asked his friend if he would come the next day.
(b) Paulami says, “I am fine.”
Answer: Paulami says that she is fine.
(c) The teacher said to the students, “Keep quiet.”
Answer: The teacher told the students to keep quiet.
(d) My mother said to me, “May your dreams come true.”
Answer: My mother wished that my dreams might come true.
(e) The students said, “Sir, please allow us to play in the field.”
Answer: The students requested the sir to allow them to play in the field.
Exercise 5 (articles)
(a). On an winter night I was aboard a boat. It was a moonlit night full on stars. The boat was anchored up a great river. I was thrilled to see a beauty of nature.
Answer: On a winter night, I was aboard a boat. It was a moonlit night full of stars. The boat was anchored on a great river. I was thrilled to see the beauty of nature.
Exercise 6 (dialogue writing)
Write a dialogue within 100 words on the need to ban the use of animals like tigers and lions as circus attractions :
Hints: wild animals decreasing— ill treatment to animals in circuses—criminal offence—laws against such—need to be humane to animals
Person A: Have you noticed how circuses still use animals like tigers and lions?
Person B: Yes, it’s awful. These wild animals are already decreasing in number due to habitat loss and poaching.
Person A: Exactly! Plus, the way they’re treated in circuses is inhumane. They endure so much ill-treatment just for entertainment.
Person B: It’s actually a criminal offense in many places now. There are laws that ban such cruelty.
Person A: True, but stricter enforcement is needed. We should treat animals with care and compassion.
Person B: Absolutely! It’s time to focus on humane alternatives for entertainment.
Exercise 7 (story writing)
Write a story within 100 words using the given hints. Give a title to the story:
Hints: returning from educational excursion by bus—night journey—sudden breakdown—tyres punctured—had to wait for two hours at a lonely place—tyres fixed—back home
Answer: A Memorable Night Journey
We were returning from an educational excursion by bus, tired but happy. The night was calm, and the bus sped through the empty roads.
Suddenly, a loud thud broke the silence—a tyre was punctured! Stranded in the middle of nowhere, we waited anxiously. The lonely surroundings, with only the sound of crickets, made it eerie. Two hours felt like an eternity until the driver finally fixed the tyres. Relieved, we continued our journey, sharing laughter to break the tension.
By dawn, we reached home, cherishing the unforgettable adventure that turned a simple trip into a lasting memory.
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