Get here the summary, questions, answers, textbook solutions, extras, and pdf of the drama/play “The Book That Saved the Earth” of the Tripura Board (TBSE) Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Supplementary textbook. However, the given notes/solutions should only be used for references and should be modified/changed according to needs.
Summary: Set 400 years in the future, this play is a glimpse into the future. A historian tells the story of the Martians’ invasion of Earth in the twenty-first century and how the popular collection of nursery rhymes known as “Mother Goose” saved the planet from destruction.
In charge of Mars, Think-Tank is an egotistical fool. A plan to invade Earth was hatched in his mind. Think-Tank told his trainee, Noodle, about his plan and gave Noodle orders to find out where his crew was on Earth. They have Captain Omega, Lieutenant Iota, and Sergeant Oop on board. Noodle called Omega and let them know that the team was in the Centerville Public Library. The crew members were scouring reference materials in an effort to determine what they were looking at. They weren’t able to specify them.
Think-Tank was able to start talking to them. He offered his knowledge to assist them in determining what the items were. The books, he reasoned, must be the delicious sandwiches so beloved by Earthlings. He suggested that his captain try one. He reasoned that the books must be about a form of terrestrial communication technology. Last but not least, he took Noodle’s advice and had them take vitamins to boost their intelligence so they could decipher the books’ secret language. They began reading Mother Goose after consuming the vitamins. They were funny and entertaining, but Think-Tank read unusual meanings into the rhymes. He reasoned that Earthlings must be more technologically advanced and powerful.
He became alarmed and ordered the crew to return. As a result, he made the decision to evacuate Mars as a whole. He moved to Alpha Centauri, a star system about 100 light-years from Mars. Noodle, who established cordial relationships with Earthlings, eventually took his place. As a result, the planet Earth was protected from an alien invasion by an ancient book of children’s rhymes.
Read and find out.
1. Why was the twentieth century called the “Era of the Book”?
Answer: Books were written about everything from anteaters to Zulus during the twentieth century, earning it the moniker “Era of the Book.” Books educated them on the when, where, what, and why of their actions. They were used as visual aids, instructional elements, punctuation, and decorative elements.
2. Who tried to invade the Earth in the twenty-first century?
Answer: In the twenty-first century, Martians attempted an invasion of Earth.
3. What guesses are made by Think–Tank about the books found on earth?
Answer: Think-first Tank’s assumption was that the books found on Earth were actually food, specifically sandwiches. Apparently, they were in a refreshment stand, as he informed Captain Omega. In addition, he mentioned that sandwiches were the most common food item on Earth. One of the books was then reportedly eaten at his direction. Sergeant Oop tried it and said it was as dry as Martian dust and not very tasty. Then Think-Tank said they should listen to the books because they were actually communication sandwiches. He reasoned that since they were unable to hear anything, the books must have been designed with visual communication in mind rather than auditory.
Think about it.
1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time, he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
Answer: Noodle avoided upsetting Think-Tank while also fixing his previous errors. If he had to disagree with Think-Tank on something, he would downplay the significance of his points by saying they were unimportant. That way, Think-Tank wouldn’t feel like he was being corrected while he was being informed of his mistakes.
4. Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which is your favourite book and why? Write a paragraph about that book.
Answer: It has been said that books are a man’s best friend. They have the potential to fortify our minds, expand our vocabulary, and broaden our horizons of understanding. There is no better companion than a book. Books that focus on children as main characters and explore their psychology while highlighting their inherent goodness are some of my favourites. One such work is Malgudi Days, by the illustrious author R. K. Narayan. The book’s focus on the kids makes it so much more enjoyable for me. What I enjoy most about this book is how well the psychology of children is portrayed.
Talk about it.
1. In what ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as threats to the Martians? Can you think of any incidents where you misinterpreted a word or an action? How did you resolve the misunderstanding?
Answer: Because of Think-Tank’s warped interpretation, the Martians are now afraid of harmless nursery rhymes. At first, he wrongly assumes that people on Earth have figured out how to merge farming and mining and are thus able to cultivate explosives. As he reads the next poem, Humpty Dumpty, he concludes incorrectly that the humans have learned of his plans and are plotting to capture him. To get away from Mars and stay out of trouble, he makes the decision right away.
Many times, I have taken the wrong meaning from a person’s words or deeds. Gallatfehmi is a Hindi word for miscommunication. When I was younger, I kept thinking it meant a wrong family, so I kept calling it a “galatfamily.” With the aid of a dictionary, I was able to figure it out.
2. The aliens in this play speak English. Do you think this is their language? What could be the language of the aliens?
Answer: Only in former British colonies do people speak English, so the play’s aliens or characters speak the author’s language. There is currently no global superpower that has colonised Mars. This rules out the possibility that English, or any other human language, is the language of the aliens. They must speak a language that is unique to them.
Extras/additional questions and answers/solutions.
1. Describe how Think-Tank’s perspective of Earthlings shifted as a result of reading the book.
Answer: For a long time, Think-Tank held the view that Martians were inherently better than humans. In contrast, his opinion of earthlings shifted after he deciphered a book of nursery rhymes. As far as he was concerned, humanity on Earth had progressed to a highly civilised state and was now plotting an invasion of Mars. Because of it, he decided to abort his mission.
7. What does Think-Tank think of Earth?
Answer: Think-Tank mocked Earth as a “ridiculous little planet” and made clear his desire to rule over it benevolently. To him, Earth, as a planet, was meaningless. He thought Martians were the most attractive people in the universe. He made fun of Earthlings by calling them “little heads.”
Before lunch, he made clear that he wanted to invade our “primitive ball of mud” of a planet. He read the book of nursery rhymes wrong and concluded that humans on Earth had advanced to the point of planning an invasion of Mars.
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