Chapter 10 – The Price of Bananas Extra Questions and Answers

Content structure

  • A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
  • B. Fill in the blanks
  • C. True or False
  • D. Short questions & answers
  • E. Long questions & answers
  • F. Grammar

A. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

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1. How early did the narrator reach the station?
(a) 1 hour
(b) 45 minutes
(c) Half an hour
(d) 15 minutes

Ans: (c) Half an hour

2. What did the younger monkeys do?
(a) Slept under the trees
(b) Waited to jump after food
(c) Stole luggage
(d) Played with each other

Ans: (b) Waited to jump after food

3. What type of seat did the narrator get?
(a) Middle seat
(b) Window seat
(c) Aisle seat
(d) Standing space

Ans: (b) Window seat

4. What was being filled from the water pump?
(a) Plastic bottles
(b) Earthen pitchers
(c) Cups
(d) Glass bottles

Ans: (b) Earthen pitchers

5. What did a monkey snatch from the bather?
(a) Loincloth
(b) Cap
(c) Bag
(d) Shoes

Ans: (a) Loincloth

6. What was the businessman carrying?
(a) Only a bag
(b) Luggage with trunk, baskets, and jug
(c) Fruits
(d) Only a steel trunk

Ans: (b) Luggage with trunk, baskets, and jug

7. What did the monkey snatch from the businessman?
(a) Loincloth
(b) Bag
(c) Embroidered cap
(d) Shoes

Ans: (c) Embroidered cap

8. Where did the monkey climb after taking the cap?
(a) Train roof
(b) Platform
(c) Neem tree
(d) Porter’s head

Ans: (c) Neem tree

9. Who tried to rescue the businessman’s cap?
(a) The narrator
(b) A porter
(c) A fruit hawker
(d) Another passenger

Ans: (c) A fruit hawker

10. How did the vendor coax the monkey?
(a) By shouting
(b) By throwing stones
(c) By offering bananas
(d) By hitting the tree

Ans: (c) By offering bananas

11. What did the vendor call the businessman?
(a) Generous
(b) Dishonest
(c) Crook
(d) Foolish

Ans: (c) Crook

12. How did the train guard signal departure?
(a) Bell rang
(b) Whistle blew
(c) Shouted “Go!”
(d) Hand signal

Ans: (b) Whistle blew

13. How did the passengers feel about the vendor?
(a) Angry
(b) Sympathetic
(c) Scared
(d) Uninterested

Ans: (b) Sympathetic

14. How did the businessman justify himself?
(a) He didn’t need help
(b) He asked the vendor
(c) He said monkeys are rude
(d) He blamed the porter

Ans: (a) He didn’t need help

Fill in the blanks

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1. The narrator was traveling from __________ railway station to Lucknow. (Faizabad)
2. The narrator sat on a __________ watching the monkeys. (bench)
3. The monkeys were frolicking on the __________ and the platform. (trees)
4. The train was announced by the ringing of the __________. (station bell)
5. The businessman wore a white muslin __________. (dhoti)
6. He also wore a delicate __________ and an embroidered cap. (tunic)
7. The businessman had his __________ carried by a porter. (luggage)
8. The fruit vendor offered the monkey some __________ to get the cap back. (bananas)
9. The fruit vendor ran along with the __________. (train)
10. The narrator drew a __________ of Sethji. (cartoon)
11. All the passengers __________ at the cartoon. (laughed)

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True or false

1. The narrator reached the station one hour before the train. (False)
S/S: He arrived half an hour in advance.

2. The narrator watched the monkeys frolicking on trees and the platform. (True)
S/S: He noticed monkeys playing and moving about.

3. The train was announced by a whistle. (False)
S/S: It was announced by the ringing of the station bell.

4. A monkey snatched the embroidered cap of a businessman first. (False)
S/S: The monkey first snatched a bather’s loincloth.

5. The bather got his loincloth back from the monkey. (True)
S/S: The monkey threw it down at his feet.

6. The businessman wore a white muslin dhoti and embroidered cap. (True)
S/S: He also wore a delicate tunic.

7. The businessman’s luggage was carried by another passenger. (False)
S/S: A porter carried his luggage.

8. The monkey climbed a neem tree after taking the businessman’s cap. (True)
S/S: It took the cap and climbed up.

9. The people on the platform were frightened by the monkey. (False)
S/S: They were amused by the monkey’s antics.

10. The businessman paid the fruit vendor two annas. (False)
S/S: He finally gave one anna.

Short questions and answers

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1. How early did the narrator reach the station?
Ans: He arrived half an hour before the train was scheduled to depart. This gave him time to relax and watch the monkeys playing on the trees and platform. It also allowed him to secure a good seat in the train comfortably without rushing.

2. Where did the narrator sit at the station?
Ans: The narrator sat on a bench at the station. From there, he could watch the monkeys frolicking on the trees and the platform. The playful animals collected leftover food, making the scene amusing while he waited for his train.

3. What were the younger monkeys doing?
Ans: The younger monkeys sat on the boughs of neem and tamarind trees. They were alert and ready to jump after any food they could see on the platform. They were playful and quick, showing their cleverness in finding snacks among the passengers.

4. How was the train announced?
Ans: The train’s arrival was announced by the ringing of the station bell. The sound signaled passengers to get ready. The narrator focused on securing a good seat in the train while the monkeys continued their playful activities on the platform.

5. Why were the passengers sweating?
Ans: The passengers were sweating because of the rising summer heat. The train compartments were warm, and many people were busy carrying out tasks, filling pitchers with water, or handling their luggage, which added to their discomfort.

6. What were some passengers doing at the water pump?
Ans: Several passengers were busy filling their small earthen pitchers with water from the pump. Some were taking baths, and others were drinking. This activity caught the attention of monkeys, who sometimes stole cloth or other items, creating a playful and amusing scene.

7. How did the monkey return the loincloth?
Ans: The monkey returned the loincloth by throwing it down from the tree at the bather’s feet. The people on the platform laughed at this clever act. The incident showed the mischievous and playful nature of the monkeys.

8. How did the businessman look when he arrived?
Ans: The businessman wore a white muslin dhoti, a delicate tunic, and an embroidered cap. He looked important and busy, shouting at the porter to hurry with his luggage. His round and smug face was covered with perspiration in the summer heat.

9. Who carried the businessman’s luggage?
Ans: A porter carried the businessman’s luggage, which included a big steel trunk, several small baskets, and a brass jug. The businessman shouted at the porter to move quickly, showing his impatient and demanding nature.

10. How did the crowd on the platform feel about the monkey?
Ans: The people on the platform were greatly amused by the monkey’s antics. They laughed and enjoyed watching the clever animal snatch items from people, including the bather’s loincloth and the businessman’s cap, making the scene entertaining and lively.

11. Who helped to get back the businessman’s cap?
Ans: A fruit vendor came forward to help. He dangled bananas to the monkey with one hand and reached for the cap with the other. His clever method convinced the monkey to release the cap in exchange for food.

12. How did the monkey finally give back the cap?
Ans: The monkey accepted the vendor’s offer and released the embroidered cap with one hand while taking the bananas with the other. The crowd cheered the clever solution, and the fruit vendor humbly returned the cap to the businessman.

13. What did the fruit vendor do as the train moved?
Ans: The vendor ran along the moving train, holding onto the footstep and pleading for fairness. He tried to get some money from the businessman but eventually had to drop off when the train left the platform completely.

14. How did the passengers feel about the fruit vendor?
Ans: The passengers felt sympathy for the poor vendor. They understood that he had helped the businessman and treated the monkeys cleverly. They were upset by the businessman’s harsh treatment and appreciated the vendor’s efforts.

15. What did the narrator do after the episode?
Ans: The narrator drew a cartoon of Sethji, the businessman, and showed it to all passengers except him. Everyone laughed at the cartoon, enjoying the humorous depiction of the businessman’s anger and discomfort.

Long questions and answers

WB 9 All Notes

1. Describe the narrator’s experience at Faizabad railway station before boarding the train.
Ans: The narrator arrived at Faizabad railway station half an hour before the train’s departure. He sat on a bench and watched monkeys frolicking on the trees and platform. Some monkeys collected leftover food, while younger ones waited on branches to jump after any visible food. The busy platform was full of passengers filling water pitchers, taking baths, or preparing to board the train. The lively scene of playful monkeys and passengers created amusement and anticipation as the narrator waited to secure a window seat.

2. Describe the businessman’s appearance and behavior at the station.
Ans: The businessman wore a white muslin dhoti, a delicate tunic, and an embroidered cap. He looked important and was accompanied by a porter carrying heavy luggage, including a big trunk, baskets, and a brass jug. He shouted at the porter to hurry, showing impatience. His round, smug face was covered with perspiration in the heat. When a monkey snatched his cap, he became confused and angry. His behavior reflected his selfishness, discomfort, and lack of patience, contrasting with the cleverness and calmness of the monkeys and the fruit vendor.

3. Explain how the fruit vendor managed to retrieve the businessman’s cap.
Ans: The fruit vendor cleverly offered bananas to the monkey while reaching for the businessman’s cap. The monkey hesitated but finally took the bananas in one hand and released the cap with the other. The crowd watched in silence as the vendor skillfully negotiated with the monkey. His quick thinking and gentle coaxing saved the cap. This incident showed the vendor’s intelligence and courage. The businessman’s cap was safely returned, and the people on the platform applauded the vendor’s cleverness while the monkeys satisfied their hunger.

4. How did the businessman react to the fruit vendor’s help?
Ans: The businessman reacted harshly and rudely to the fruit vendor’s help. He called the vendor impudent for asking for money for giving bananas to the monkey. Even though the vendor had cleverly helped retrieve the embroidered cap, the businessman refused to appreciate his effort. Eventually, he gave the vendor only one anna. His behavior reflected selfishness, impatience, and unfair treatment toward a poor man, contrasting with the generosity and cleverness shown by the vendor. The passengers felt sympathy for the vendor and disapproval of the businessman.

5. Explain how the narrator described the fruit vendor’s method to retrieve the cap.
Ans: The narrator described the vendor dangling bananas to coax the monkey. He stretched his other hand for the cap, speaking softly to encourage the monkey. The monkey hesitated, looking around, then climbed down cautiously and exchanged the cap for bananas. The vendor’s calm and clever method impressed the spectators. The passengers watched silently, appreciating his intelligence. The narrator emphasized the vendor’s skill and kindness, showing how clever thinking and patience can solve problems, even with unpredictable animals like monkeys, while highlighting the vendor’s bravery and generosity.

6. How did Sethji, the businessman, show his selfishness?
Ans: Sethji showed selfishness by refusing to fairly reward the fruit vendor for helping retrieve his cap. Despite the vendor’s cleverness and kindness, Sethji gave only one anna. He scolded the porter, shouted at the vendor, and justified his actions. He ignored the feelings and efforts of the poor. His focus was on his own comfort and pride. This behavior contrasts sharply with the vendor’s generosity, patience, and problem-solving skills, showing the difference between selfishness and selflessness in human character.

7. What lesson can be learned from the monkeys’ actions?
Ans: The monkeys’ actions teach that cleverness and patience can solve problems. They show intelligence, alertness, and observation. Their playful mischief highlights curiosity and strategy. By exchanging the cap for bananas, they demonstrated understanding of reward. The passage also contrasts human selfishness with animal cleverness. Observing the monkeys reminds us to respect nature and understand that even small beings can act cleverly. Their behavior created humor and taught that intelligence and patience, not only strength or anger, are important for solving difficult situations in life.

Grammar

WB 9 All Notes

1. The bather said to the monkey, “Please return my loincloth.”
Ans: The bather requested the monkey to return his loincloth.

2. The businessman shouted, “What have you done, monkey!”
Ans: The businessman shouted at the monkey in utter confusion and asked what it had done.

3. The vendor said to Sethji, “I will rescue the cap.”
Ans: The vendor told Sethji that he would rescue the cap.

4. The businessman said, “Hurry up with the luggage.”
Ans: The businessman ordered the porter to hurry up with the luggage.

5. The porter said, “But I carried two big pieces of luggage.”
Ans: The porter complained that he had carried two big pieces of luggage.

6. The fruit vendor said, “Sethji, be just, I saved your honorable cap.”
Ans: The fruit vendor told Sethji to be just as he had saved his honorable cap.

7. The compartment passengers said, “Please give him the money, Sethji.”
Ans: The compartment passengers requested Sethji to give the vendor the money.

8. The vendor said to Sethji, “Please give me two annas for the bananas.”
Ans: The vendor requested Sethji to give him two annas for the bananas.

9. The guard blew his whistle and said, “The train is about to depart.”
Ans: The guard blew his whistle and announced that the train was about to depart.

10. The vendor said, “Sethji, do not rob the poor!”
Ans: The vendor urged Sethji not to rob the poor.

11. The businessman said, “I did not ask him to help me.”
Ans: The businessman said that he had not asked the vendor to help him.

12. The businessman said, “I will go into the compartment.”
Ans: The businessman said that he would go into the compartment.

13. The vendor said, “Sethji, please give me the money.”
Ans: The vendor requested Sethji to give him the money.

14. Sethji said, “I gave you an anna already.”
Ans: Sethji said that he had already given him an anna.

15. The porter said, “I should get more for the luggage.”
Ans: The porter said that he should get more for the luggage.

16. The bather said, “I am taking a bath under the pump.”
Ans: The bather said that he was taking a bath under the pump.

17. The passengers said, “We all feel sorry for the poor vendor.”
Ans: The passengers said that they all felt sorry for the poor vendor.

18. The businessman said, “I am very upset with the monkey.”
Ans: The businessman said that he was very upset with the monkey.

19. The fruit vendor said, “I had to offer the bananas to the monkey.”
Ans: The fruit vendor said that he had to offer the bananas to the monkey.

20. Sethji said, “I did not want your help.”
Ans: Sethji said that he had not wanted the vendor’s help.

21. The vendor said, “Sethji, you are being unfair.”
Ans: The vendor told Sethji that he was being unfair.

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