NCERT Solutions for Chapter 7 Packing Class 9 English Beehive
Chapter Name | Packing NCERT Solutions |
Class | CBSE Class 9 |
Textbook Name | Beehive |
Related Readings |
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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. Following are the names of the characters:
1. George
2. Harris
3. Jerome (the narrator himself)
4. Montmorency (the dog)
Question 2: Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer
The narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing because he felt that he was better in packing than others and he had proud in his packing skills and he wanted to show his skills to his friends George and Harris.
Question 3: How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
Answer
George and Harris accepted Jerome's suggestion immediately when Jerome offered to pack. Then George spread himself over the easy-chair and Harris spread his legs on the table.
No, Jerome did not like their reaction. He was irritated by their reaction.
Question 4: What was Jerome's real intention when he offered to pack?
Answer
Jerome's real intention was to supervise the packing process when he offered to pack. He wanted Harris and George to follow his instructions. His intention was to pinpoint them at every little mistake and also showing his expertise in packing.
Question 5: What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
Answer
When the bag was shut and strapped, Harris said that Jerome had forgotten to pack the boots. He waited for this moment because he wanted to irritate Jerome and mocked his packing skills sarcastically.
Question 6: What "horrible idea occurred to Jerome a little later?
Answer
The "horrible idea" that occurred to Jerome a little later was doubting whether he had packed his toothbrush or not Because he always forgot his toothbrush while traveling and always confronted with a chaotic situation which haunted him.
Question 7: Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
Answer
When Jerome could not find his toothbrush in the bag, he unpacked everything to find the toothbrush. Finally, he found the toothbrush inside the boot after checking each item one by one when he was putting the things back.
Question 8: Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
Answer
Jerome had to reopen the packed bag because he found that he had packed his spectacles in the bag.
Question 9: What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
Answer
George and Harris offered to pack the hampers because the hampers were the only ones left and they had take enough rest. They agreed to complete the rest of the packing to showing their packing skills to Jerome.
Question 10: While packing the hamper, George and Harris do 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 which stand true in the case of George and Harris are as follows:
(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.
(ix) They upset almost everything.
II. What does Jerome say was Montmorency's ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?
Answer
Montmorency's goal in life was to get in the way of everything and eventually get scolded and cursed for his mischievous behaviour.
I think that Montmorency was a perfect nuisance because he interfered in activities in places where he was not wanted. By his interference people go crazy and throw things at him.
III. A Discuss in groups and answer the following in two or three paragraphs. (100-150 words)
Question 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
The story is about three packers, namely, George, Harris, and Jerome. Jerome seems to be the best packer because he arranges things in an orderly manner. Although he also forgot about the boots and toothbrush and accidentally packed his spectacles, he packed the bag without messing the things. On the other hand, George and Harris messed everything up. They display careless behavior when they break a cup, squash the tomato in strawberry jam, and step on almost everything; they put things behind themselves, then search for them later. They miserably failed in handling things, and the sheer mess created by Montmorency points to the blunder they made.
Question 2: How did Montmorency 'contribute' to the packing?
Answer
The packing adventure was already a mess after George and Harris' chaos, but Montmorency's contribution made it more bothersome. The highest ambition of Montmorency was to interfere in the places where he was not required, and the result was scolding and cursing. A number of his bumblings, including the one where he sat on things that were about to be packed along with the one when he put his leg in the jam jar and finally he destroyed the lemons he pretended were rats, shed light on how he could become a 'perfect nuisance'.
Question 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 undoubtedly a humorous one. The central idea of 'packing' is not only amusing because of the completely funny business involved, but the author's narration makes it more funny.
As a first example of the humorous episodes in the story, Jerome's expectation that he would be instructor of George and Harris in packing completely goes in the wrong direction and he is the only one left to pack, while his friends sit idle and simply point him in the direction of where he should put his stuff. Secondly, the whole situation where George and Harris began packing the hampers was not only chaotic but extremely entertaining as well. Harris's act of sitting on the butter and then searching everywhere for it and eventually finding him at his back was one of the funniest parts. They also smashed the pies by putting heavy things on top of them, reflecting their mindless behavior.
Lastly, Montmorency's entry, the most mischievous element of all, was the icing on the cake. He is most notorious for sitting on things to be packed, destroying lemons in the hamper, and putting his leg inside jam.
Thus, the story provided a good series of humorous incidents.
Thinking about language
Question 1: Match the words/phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
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Column A |
Column B |
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1. slaving |
(i) a quarrel or an argument |
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2. chaos |
(ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool |
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3. rummage |
(iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain |
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4. scrape out |
(iv) finish successfully, achieve |
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5. stumble over, tumble into |
(v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly |
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6. accomplish |
(vi) complete confusion and disorder |
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7. uncanny |
(vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking |
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8. (to have or get into) a row |
(viii) working hard |
Answer
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Column A |
Column B |
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1. slaving |
(viii) working hard |
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2. chaos |
(vi) complete confusion and disorder |
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3. rummage |
(v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly |
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4. scrape out |
(ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool |
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5. stumble over, tumble into |
(vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking |
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6. accomplish |
(iv) finish successfully, achieve |
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7. uncanny |
(iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain |
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8. (to have or get into) a row |
(i) a quarrel or an argument |
Question 2: 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
A Traffic Jam
During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter chaos at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by getting into 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.
Question 3: A Look at the sentences below. Notice that the verbs (Italicized) are all in their bare form.
(a) Simple commands:
- Stand up!
- Put it here
(b) 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.
(c) Do's and Don'ts:
- Always get up for your elders.
- Don't shout in class.
(d) 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 do's 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) Command :
- Sit properly!
- Shut the door!
(ii) Do’s:
- Always talk politely.
- Note down the classwork.
Don’t:
- Don’t throw the litter in the classroom.
- Don’t copy the answers in exams.
(iii) Directions:
Board bus no. 28 from the bus stop near our dance class and get down at Shri Krishna colony. From there take an auto rickshaw for Ambedkar colony and get down in front of Veg Tadka restaurant in the main road. My house is second floor just left building of the restaurant.
(iv) Instructions for making a Noodles:
Ingredients:
Noodles(boiled)
Tomato ketchup
Oil
Capsicum(chopped)
Onion(chopped)
Tomato(chopped)
Peas
Salt
Cumin seeds
Heat the oil and roast the cumin seeds. Then, add capsicum, onion, peas and tomatoes in it. Mix them well until the vegetables cooked. Then add tomato ketchup in it and stir well. Then add the boiled noodles and salt. Then stir and cooked it well and serve hot.
( This is just an example for students, they are recommended to prepare such answers on their own.)
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.
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Positive |
Negative |
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1. Save for a rainy day. |
(i) Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
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2. _____ while the sun shines. |
(ii) ______ the cart before the horse. |
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3. _____ before you leap. |
(iii) ______ a mountain out of a mole hill. |
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4. _____ and let live. |
(iv) ______ all your eggs in one basket. |
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5. _____to say before you sing. |
(v) ______the hand that feeds you. |
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6.______ the best, but prepare for the worst. |
(vi) _____ your chickens before they hatch. |
Answer
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Positive |
Negative |
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1. Save for a rainy day. |
(i) Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
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2. Make hay while the sun shines. |
(ii) Don’t put the cart before the horse. |
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3. Look before you leap. |
(iii) Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. |
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4. live and let live. |
(iv) Don’t pull all your eggs in one basket. |
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5. Learn to say before you sing. |
(v) Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. |
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6. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. |
(vi) Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
Writing
Question 1: You have seen how Jerome, George and Harris mess up their packing, especially of the hamper. From their mistakes you must have thought of some 'dos' and 'don'ts" for packing. Can you give some tips for packing by completing the paragraph below?
First pack all the heavy items, especially the ones you don't need right away. Then...
Here are some words and phrases you can use to begin your sentences with:
- Then
- Next
- Now
- Remember
- Don't forget
- At last/Finally
Answer
First pack all the heavy items, especially the ones you don't need right away. Then keep the less heavy items which are firm and durable. Next spread a layer of a newspaper in order to avoid any kind of damage. Now arrange these things properly. Remember that packing needs systematic organization of things. Do not forget to put all the essential items. Finally strap properly.