NCERT Solutions Class 9 English (Beehive (Prose))
The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 9 English (Beehive (Prose)) Chapter – 10 Kathmandu has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.
Chapter – 10 (Kathmandu)
Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.
1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
Answer – The author visited the Pashupatinath Temple and the Baudhnath Stupa in Kathmandu.
2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
Answer – ‘All this’ in the above sentence refers to a bar of marzipan and a corn-on- the-cob roasted in a charcoal brazier- rubbed with salt, chilli powder and lemon coupled with love story comics and a reader’s digest.
3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
Answer – Vikram Seth compares the quills of a porcupine to the pole of the flute seller with fifty or sixty bansuris protruding in all directions.
4. Name five kinds of flutes.
Answer – The five kinds of flutes mentioned in text include the following:
- The reed neh
- The Japanese shakuhachi
- The deep bansuri of Hindustani classical music
- The clear or breathy flutes of South America
- The high-pitched Chinese flutes
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph
1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
Answer – The author notes that while the other hawkers shouted out their wares, the flute seller did not. He simply played a flute, slowly and meditatively, without excessive display.
2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
Answer – A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the river Bagmati. It is believed that when it emerges fully, the goddess inside will escape and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on the earth.
3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of:
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)
(ii) the things he sees
(iii) the sounds he hears
Answer – The author has drawn powerful images and pictures.
(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath: Priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the grounds. We offer a few flowers. A party of saffron-clad Westerners struggle for permission to enter the temple as the gate says that only Hindus are allowed in the temple.
(ii) The author sees the white dome of Baudhnath Stupa, which was ringed by a road; small shops selling felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery; and a flute seller holding a pole carrying 50-60 flutes.
(iii) The author hears film songs blaring out from the radios; car horns and bicycle bells; and hawkers’ cries.
III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100–150 words each.
1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
Answer – The atmosphere at the Pashupatinath temple was noisy, and full of chaos and confusion. Worshippers were trying to get the priest’s attention; others were pushing their way to the front; saffron-clad Westerners were trying to enter the temple; monkeys were fighting and adding to the general noise; a corpse was being cremated on the banks of the river Bagmati; washerwomen were at their work, while children were bathing. In contrast, the Baudhnath stupa was “a haven of quietness in the busy streets around”. There was no crowd, which helped build the stillness and serenity at the Buddhist shrine.
2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
Answer – The author describes Kathmandu’s busiest streets as vivid, mercenary and religious, with small shrines to flower-adorned deities along the narrowest and busiest streets. The streets are full of fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards; shops selling Western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate; or copper utensils and Nepalese antiques.
Film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, stray cows look questioningly at motorcycles, vendors shout out their wares.
3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
Answer – The author considers flute music to be “the most universal and most particular” of all music.There is no culture that does not have its flute. Each kind of flute has a specific fingering and compass, and “weaves its own associations”. Still, for the author, to hear any flute is “to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind”. In spite of their differences, every flute produces music with the help of the human breath. Similarly, in spite of the differences in caste, culture, religion, region,all human beings are the same, with the same living breath running through all of them.
Thinking about Language
I. Read the following sentences carefully to understand the meaning of the italicised phrases. Then match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
1. A communal war broke out when the princess was abducted by the neighbouring prince.
2. The cockpit broke off from the plane during the plane crash.
3. The car broke down on the way and we were left stranded in the jungle.
4. The dacoit broke away from the police as they took him to court.
5. The brothers broke up after the death of the father.
6. The thief broke into our house when we were away.
| A | B |
| (i) break out | (a) to come apart due to force |
| (ii) break off | (b) end a relationship |
| (iii) break down | (c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing |
| (iv) break away (from someone) | (d) to start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease) |
| (v) break up | (e) to escape from someone’s grip |
| (vi) break into | (f) stop working |
Answer –
| A | B |
| (i) break out | (d) to start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease) |
| (ii) break off | (a) to come apart due to force |
| (iii) break down | (f) stop working |
| (iv) break away (from someone) | (e) to escape from someone’s grip |
| (v) break up | (b) end a relationship |
| (vi) break into | (c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing |
II. 1. Use the suffixes -ion or -tion to form nouns from the following verbs. Make the necessary changes in the spellings of the words.
Example: proclaim – proclamation
cremate ___________ act ___________ exhaust ___________
invent ___________ tempt ___________ immigrate ___________
direct ___________ meditate ___________ imagine ___________
dislocate ___________ associate ___________ dedicate ___________
Answer –
cremate cremation; act action; exhaust exhaustion
invent invention; tempt temptation; immigrate immigration
direct direction; meditate meditation; imagine imagination
dislocate dislocation; associate association; dedicate dedication
2. Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed.
(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the ___________ of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks ___________.
(iii) I could not resist the ___________ to open the letter.
(iv) Hardwork and ___________ are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with ____________after being made to stand in the sun.
Answer –
(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the invention of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks imagination.
(iii) I could not resist the temptation to open the letter.
(iv) Hardwork and dedication are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun.
III. Punctuation
Use capital letters, full stops, question marks, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph.
an arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day he asked the tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he marched upto an elephant and asked the same question the elephant picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer
Answer –
An arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle one day. He asked the tiger, “Who is stronger than you?” “You, O! Lion,” replied the tiger. “Who is fiercer than a leopard?” asked the lion. “You, sir,” replied the leopard. He marched up to an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant picked him up in his trunk, swung him in the air and threw him down. “Look”, said the lion, “there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer.”
IV. Simple Present Tense
Study these sentences from the lesson.
- A fight breaks out between two monkeys.
- Film songs blare out from the radios.
- I wash it down with Coca-Cola.
The italicised verbs are in the simple present tense. The writer is here describing what he saw and heard but he uses the present tense instead of the past tense.
A narration or a story can be made more dramatic or immediate by using the present tense in this way.
Now look at the following sentences.
- A small shrine half protrudes from the stone platform on the riverbank.
- Small shops stand on the outer edge of the Stupa.
We use the simple present tense to speak about what is usually or generally true. The sentences above describe facts. We also use the simple present tense in sentences depicting ‘universal truths’. For example:
- The sun rises in the east.
- The earth revolves round the sun.
We can also refer to habitual actions using the simple present tense.
- He usually takes a train instead of a bus to work.
- We often get fine drizzles in winter.
In these sentences words like every day, often, seldom, never, every month, generally, usually, etc. may be used.
1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
(i) The heart is a pump that __________ (send) the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action __________ (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart __________ (contract). This __________ (force) the blood out into the arteries, which __________ (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.
(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought it __________ (dig) a pit and __________ (enclose) itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule __________ (dry) and __________ (harden), but when rain __________ (come), the mud __________ (dissolve) and the lungfish __________ (swim) away.
(iii) MAHESH : We have to organise a class party for our teacher.
__________ (Do) anyone play an instrument?
VIPUL : Rohit __________ (play) the flute.
MAHESH : __________ (Do) he also act?
VIPUL : No, he __________ (compose) music.
MAHESH : That’s wonderful!
Answer –
(i) The heart is a pump that sends the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action takes place when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. This forces the blood out into the arteries, which expands to receive the oncoming blood.
(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During a drought, it digs a pit and encloses itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule dries and hardens, but when rain comes, the mud dissolves and the lungfish swims away.
(iii) Mahesh: We have to organize a class party for our teacher. Does anyone play an instrument?
Vipul: Rohit plays the flute.
Mahesh: Does he also act?
Vipul: No. He composes music.
Mahesh: That’s wonderful!
