Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
By Ruskin Bond
Summary Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
The writer’s grandfather liked to collect animals and had a zoo at home. Once he bought a monkey named Toto from a Tonga driver for a sum of five rupees.
Toto was kept secret as the grandmother disliked animals. Toto was very mischievous. When the writer and his grandfather hid Toto in a cupboard and tied him to a hook, he broke the hook and caused havoc in the room. The next day, when he was kept in the servant’s room along with other animals, he did not let them sleep all night.
As grandfather had to go to Saharanpur for work, he decided to take the monkey along with him. He carried Toto in a strong bag made of canvas and closed the zip nicely so that Toto could not escape. Toto made unsuccessful attempts to get out of the bag, which made the back jump and roll. This aroused the curiosity of fellow passengers at the railway station. At the Saharanpur railway station, when grandfather was getting his ticket checked, Toto peeked out of the bag and smiled at the ticket collector. As the ticket collector declared that it was a dog, grandfather had to buy a ticket for 3 rupees, much to his annoyance.
When Toto was accepted by grandmother, it was given a place in the stable along with the donkey- Nana. Toto did not get along with Nana as well.
Toto enjoyed taking a bath in warm water during the winter season. One day, he almost boiled himself when he jumped into a kettle of boiling water.
One afternoon, Toto ate the family meal of pulao. He threw the empty dish from the tree and it broke it into several pieces.
Toto’s mischiefs grew by the day and Grandfather realized that they could not keep him at home. Finally, he found the same Tonga driver and sold Toto back to him for a sum of three rupees.
Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
Questions-Answers Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
Question 1:
How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
Answer
Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver. The tonga-driver used to keep the monkey tied to a feeding-trough. The monkey looked out of place there. Grandfather bought it for five rupees. He decided to keep it in his private zoo.
Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
Question 2:
“Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?
Answer
Toto had bright eyes sparkling with mischief, pearly white teeth, quick and wicked fingers and a gracious tail which served as a third hand. The smile of Toto was cute and frightened elderly Anglo- Indian ladies. Altogether all these qualities made him pretty.
Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
Question 3:
Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
Answer
Toto was a mischievous monkey. He kept disturbing all other animals in grandfather’s private zoo. It seemed that only grandfather could manage him properly. So, he took Toto to Saharanpur in a bag.
The ticket collector called Toto a dog as the monkey did not qualify the category of human beings.
Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
Question 4:
How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Answer
Toto takes a bath by testing the temperature of the water first with his hand, then stepping in gradually, like a human.
He has learnt all this by watching the author.
Some day Toto got in a large kitchen kettle which was on fire to boil. He enjoyed the warm water but when the water turned out to be hot he jumped up and down. Suddenly the grandmother arrived at and pulled him out in half-boiled condition.
Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
Question 5:
Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
Answer
Toto was not only mischievous but also his mischiefs were very trouble some for the family. He tore the expensive wall-paper, dresses, broke plates etc. Grandfathers realised that they could not afford such frequent losses. So, the author gave the above statement.
Class 9 Moments Chapter – 2 The Adventures of Toto
