NCERT Solutions Class 9 English (Beehive) Chapter 7 (Packing)

NCERT Solutions Class 9 English (Beehive (Prose)) 

The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 9 English (Beehive (Prose)) Chapter – 7 Packing has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise. 

Chapter – 7 (Packing) 

Thinking about the Text

I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30–40 words).

1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don’t forget the dog!).
Answer – There are four characters in the narrative. They are Jerome (the narrator), George, Harris and Montmorency (the dog).

2. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer – The narrator volunteered to do packing because he thought he was the best packer. He felt proud of his packing and wanted to show it.

3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
Answer – George and Harris readily accepted Jerome’s suggestion. George smoked a pipe and “spread himself over the easy-chair”, while Harris put his legs on the table and lit a cigar.
No, Jerome irritated by their reaction.

4. What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
Answer – Jerome’s real intention was to boss over the job and George and Harris to follow his orders.

5. What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
Answer – After the bag was shut and strapped, Harris said, “Ain’t you going to put the boots in?”
He waited till then to ask the question so as to irritate Jerome.

6. What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
Answer – The horrible idea that occurred to Jerome a little later was if he had packed the toothbrush. The narrator says that he doesn’t know why he would always forget whether he had packed his toothbrush or not.

7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
Answer – Jerome finally found the tooth brush inside a boot when he was putting the things back one by one after turning them out of the bag.

8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
Answer – Jerome had to reopen the bag because he realised that he had packed his spectacles in it and had to re-open it.

9. What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
Answer – George and Harris offered to pack the hamper. George said that he and Harris would better do the rest of the packing and let Jerome take some rest.

10. While packing the hamper, George and Harris did a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(ii) They also broke a plate.
(iii) They squashed a tomato.
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(v) They stepped on a banana.
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vii) They stepped on things.
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
(ix) They upset almost everything.
(x) They were very good at packing.
Answer – The statements that are true are:
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(iii) They squashed a tomato.
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vii) They stepped on things.

II. What does Jerome say was Montmorency’s ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?
Answer – According to Jerome, Montmorency’s ambition in life was to get in the way, make people mad, be scolded and have things thrown at his head. The dog felt that his day was fruitful only if he could make somebody stumble over him and curse him for an hour. He took pride in achieving this goal.
Montmorency behaved just like a dog would behave in such a situation.  He tried to explore whatever he saw being packed. His mischievous tactics to beguile the attention of the trio can be compared to that of a child.

III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words)

1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
Answer – Of the three, Jerome is the best packer He knew how to arrange things in order. Both Harris and George messed everything. Harris packed the strawberry jam on top of a tomato and squashed it. George stepped on the butter. They were getting constantly irritated by Montmorency. Till the time Jerome packed, although he took his time, the job. They even kept things behind them and then kept searching for it. They made everything such a mess.

2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
Answer – The packing escapade was already a messy job and Montmorency’s contribution made it even more tiresome. He did his level best to be a “perfect nuisance”.
He came and sat down on things, just when they were wanted to be packed. He put his leg into the jam and worried the teaspoons. He also pretended that the lemons were rats. So he got into the hamper and killed three of them before Harris could land him with the frying-pan.

3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is described.)
Answer – Yes, this story is definitely funny. Not only is the way in which the three friends pack for their trip quite mirthfully, but the way the author narrates all the incidents is also entertaining. The first humorous element is that he offered to pack, George and Harris leave the whole matter to him. Consequently, he has to do packing though his real intention was to boss the job.
The second humorous element is that George placed the butter on the chair and Harris sat on it and it stuck at his back. When they searched it for packing it was missing. They walked and walked round the room. At last, George saw it at Harris’s back. The third humorous element is that Montmorency squirms in where he is not wanted. He wants somebody stumble over him and curse him steadily for an hour. He pretends that lemons were rats.

Thinking about Language

I. Match the words/phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

Answer –

II. Use suitable words or phrases from Column A above to complete the paragraph given below.

A Traffic Jam

During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter _________ at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by _________ over their right of way, and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen _________ at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having _________ something.
Answer –
During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter chaos at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by getting into a row over their right of way, and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen slaving at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having accomplished something.

III. Look at the sentences below. Notice that the verbs (italicised) are all in their bare form.

• Simple commands:
  • Stand up!
  • Put it here!
• Directions: (to reach your home)
  Board Bus No.121 and get down at Sagar Restaurant. From there turn right and walk till you reach a book shop. My home is just behind the shop.
• Dos and don’ts:
  • Always get up for your elders.
  • Don’t shout in class.
• Instructions for making a fruit salad:
  Ingredients
  Oranges – 2
  Pineapple – one large piece
  Cherries – 250 grams
  Bananas – 2
  Any other fruit you like

Wash the fruit. Cut them into small pieces. Mix them well. Add a few drops of lime juice. Add sugar to taste. Now add some cream (or ice cream if you wish to make fruit salad with ice cream.)

1. Now work in pairs. Give
(i) two commands to your partner.
(ii) two dos and don’ts to a new student in your class.
(iii) directions to get to each other’s houses.
(iv) instructions for moving the body in an exercise or a dance, or for cooking something.
Answer –
(i) Commands: Sit properly.
Respect your elders.
(ii) Dos: Do your homework regularly.
Stand whenever a teacher enters the class.
Don’ts: Don’t leave your lunch unfinished.
Don’t fight in the school.
(iii) From the Globe Chowk, take right turn to arrive onto street 21. Take the first left. You will find a park on the right. Keep walking till you find the end corner of the park on the same road. Take a right turn to arrive onto street 36. Look for the house with two palm trees and that is my house.
(iv) Sit with your spine straight. Take a deep breath. Place both your palms near your head. Put your forefingers above the eyebrows. Place your middle and ring fingers on your eyelids. Place your little finger under your eyes. Make a humming sound while keeping your mouth closed. This is called Bhramari Pranayam.

2. The table below has some proverbs telling you what to do and what not to do. Fill in the blanks and add a few more such proverbs to the table.

Answer –

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