NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror

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NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror

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Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. CBSE Class 9 English Solutions are part of All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror and After, NCERT Class 9 English Textbook of Beehive and Supplementary Reader (Moments). for All Chapters, You can practice these here.

The Snake and the Mirror

Chapter: 5

BEEHIVE – PROSE

PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION

Passage: 1

It was a hot summer night about ten o’clock. I had my meal at the restaurant and returned to my room. I heard a noise from above as I opened the door. The sould was a familiar one. One could say that the rats and I shared the room. I took out my box of matches and lighted the kerosene lamp on the table.

Questions

1. Who is the T in the above lines?

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(a) The author.

(b) The doctor.

(d) The owner.

Ans: (b) The doctor.

2. The speaker is turning back after his meal from:

(a) A dhaba.

(b) A cooking house.

(d) Hai friends house.

Ans: (c) A restaurant.

3. The speaker lit his lamp to see:

(a) What was there in the room.

(b) Who has intruded in the room.

(d) To ascertain the truth of the situation.

Ans: (d) To ascertain the truth of the situation.

4. Which is the antonym of ‘familiar’.

(a) Unfamiliar.

(b) Unknown.

(d) Unacquainted.

Ans: (a) Unfamiliar.

5. What was the passage say about the season and time?

(a) Spring season and about ten o’clock.

(b) Hot summer season and about ten o’clock.

(d) Winter night and about ten o’clock.

Ans: (c) Hot summer night and about ten o’clock.

Passage: 2

The house was not electrified; it was a small rented room. I had just set-up medical practice and my earnings were meagre. I had about sixty rupees in my suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, I also possessed one solitary black coat which I was then wearing.

Questions

1. The dwelling place of the doctor was:

(a) Fully equipped.

(b) Ill-equipped.

(d) A small straw house.

Ans: (c) Not electrified.

2. The doctor has a very meagre source of income:

(a) He was not a seasoned doctor.

(b) He had just started his practice.

(d) People were more conscious about their health.

Ans: (b) He had just started his practice.

3. The doctor was staying in:

(a) A rented room.

(b) His own house.

(d) A dharamshala.

Ans: (a) A rented room.

4. The doctor was put on ________ to cover up his body.

(a) Dhoti.

(b) Shirt.

(d) All of these.

Ans: (c) Black coat.

5. Find word from the passage that means small in quantity.

(a) Small.

(b) Just.

(d) Possessed.

Ans: (c) Mearge.

Passage: 3

I took off my black coat, white shirt and not-so-white vest and hung them up. I opened the two windows in the room. It was an outer room with one wall facing the open yard. It had a tiled roof with long supporting gables that rested on the beam over the wall. There was no ceiling. There was a regular traffic of rats to and from the beam. I made my bed and pulled it close to the wall. I lay down but I could not sleep.

Questions

1. The doctor unclothed some of his items to ________ them up.

(a) Hang.

(b) Rest.

(d) None of these.

Ans: (c) Hung.

2. The roof of his room was having:

(a) Cardboard sheets.

(b) Tiles.

(d) Tented ceiling.

Ans: (b) Tiles.

3. One can see a regular activity in the room. It was their of:

(a) Ants.

(b) Noise of sparrows.

(d) Bats.

Ans: (c) Rats.

4. Differentiate between ‘hung’ and hang’ by using in a sentence.

Ans: (i) I hung by coat on the knot.

(ii) The murderer was hanged.

5. Trace a synonym of the word ‘roof.

(a) Ceiling.

(b) Filed.

(d) Beam.

Ans: (a) Ceiling.

Passage: 4

One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one. I took a look. In those days I was a great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself look handsome. I was unmarried and I was a doctor. I felt I had to make my presence felt. I picked up the comb and ran it through my hair and adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat.

Questions

1. The speakers is much anxious to make his presence feel to others by:

(a) Keeping himself neat and tidy.

(b) To showing himself sturdy and strong.

(e) Looking handsome and neat.

(d) Wearing ornaments.

Ans: (c) Looking handsome and neat.

2. Select his most extraordinary personality trait.

(a) A handsome youth.

(b) Unmarried.

(d) Ill electrified rented room.

Ans: (b) Unmarried.

3. In what way did he make use of the mirror?

(a) To see his face.

(b) To comb his hair.

(d) To shave himself.

Ans: (a) To see his face.

4. Find the verb form of beauty:

(a) Beautiful.

(b) Beauteous.

(d) Bewitch.

Ans: (c) Beautify.

5. What type of doctor was narrator?

(a) Allopathic.

(b) Ayurvedic.

(d) Physician.

Ans: (c) Homeopathic.

Passage: 5

I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile. I made another earth-shaking decision. I would always keep that attractive smile on my face to look more handsome. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it!

Questions

1. In which sphere the speaker had got his degree?

(a) Unani.

(b) Ayurvedic.

(d) Homeopathic.

Ans: (d) Homeopathic.

2. He took an earth shaking decision of:

(a) Looking more attractive.

(b) Showing glamorous face.

(d) Impressing others.

Ans: (a) Looking more attractive.

3. Which is the correct meaning of ‘handsome’.

(a) Attractive.

(b) Beautiful.

(d) Impressive.

Ans: (b) Beautiful.

4. These lines have been extracted from the lesson.

(a) A truly beautiful mind.

(b) A lost child.

(d) If I were you.

Ans: (c) The Snake and the Minor.

5. What characteristics of the speaker do you?

(a) Married.

(b) Handsome.

(d) Bachelor.

Ans: (d) Bachelor.

Passage: 6

Again came that noise from above.

I got up, lit a beedi and paced up and down the room. Then another lovely thought struck me. I would marry. I would get married to a woman doctor who had plenty of money and a good medical practice. She had to be fat; for a valid reason. If I made some silly mistake and needed to run away she should not be able to run after me and catch me !

Questions

1. There entered a thought in his mind. It was that he:

(a) Should awake.

(b) Should marry a woman doctor.

(d) Both (b) and (c).

Ans: (d) Both (b) and (c).

2. There is an reference to noise. It was that of:

(a) Some movement.

(b) Some hitting.

(d) Some knocking.

Ans: (a) Some movement.

3. Which characteristic of the doctor do you notice in these lines?

(a) Broadness.

(b) Narrowness.

(d) Lust for money.

Ans: (d) Lust for money.

4. Find a word that means ‘walked’.

(a) Plenty.

(b) Paced.

(d) Run.

Ans: (b) Paced.

5. Name the author of the chapter.

(a) Issac Asimov.

(b) Albert Einstein.

(d) Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

Ans: (d) Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

Passage: 7

With such thoughts in my mind I resumed my seat in the chair in front of the table. There were no more sounds from above. Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube had fallen to the ground… surely nothing to worry about. Even so I thought I would turn around and take a look. No sooner had I turned than a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair and landed on my shoulder.

Questions

1. The doctor is deeply meditation the view of:

(a) His marriage with a lady.

(b) His marriage with a fat doctor.

(d) His marriage with a simpleton.

Ans: (c) His marriage with a wealthy fat doctor lady.

2. Suddenly he heard a thud sound and it was that all:

(a) Fat snake.

(b) Falling of plaster.

(d) An earthquake.

Ans: (a) A fat snake.

3. Where was the snake now?

(a) Legs of the doctor.

(b) Shoulder of the doctor.

(d) On the chair.

Ans: (b) Shoulder of the doctor.

4. The word ‘wriggled’ means:

(a) Murmured shrilly.

(b) Moved rapidly .

(d) Twisted.

Ans: (d) Twisted.

5. Trace a word that means ‘twisted body about’.

(a) Around.

(b) Landed.

(d) Thud.

Ans: (c) Wrigged.

Passage: 8

I didn’t jump. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out. There was no time to do any such thing. The snake slithered along my shoulder and coiled around my left arm above the elbow. The hood was spread out and its head was hardly three or four inches from my face!

Questions

1. There was neither expression nor any movement on the doctor since:

(a) There was no time.

(b) Doctor had fainted.

(d) Doctor was in a chaotic condition.

Ans: (a) There was no time.

2. What was the first movement of the snake their?

(a) Act of wriggling.

(b) Act of slithering.

(d) Act of going away.

Ans: (b) Act of slithering.

3. In the second phase, the snake ________ the left arm of the doctor.

(a) Bound.

(b) Entrapped.

(d) Coiled.

Ans: (d) Coiled.

4. How much distance did these lines convey between the snake and the doctor’s face?

(a) No distance.

(b) Little distance.

(d) Much distance.

Ans: (c) Hardly three or four inches.

5. Trace a word that means as ‘slipped’.

(a) Tremble.

(b) Coiled.

(d) Spread.

Ans: (c) Slithered.

Passage: 9

At my slightest movement the snake would strike me! Death lurked four inches away. Suppose it struck, what was the medicine I had to take? There were no medicines in the room. I was but a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.

Questions

1. In case the doctor moved, what would have happened?

(a) Immediate strike of the snake.

(b) Moving away of the snake.

(d) Urgent bite of the snake.

Ans: (a) Immediate strike of the snake.

2. There was an imminent danger before the doctor. It was that of

(a) Bite of the snake.

(b) Death of the doctor.

(d) All of these.

Ans: (b) Death of the doctor.

3. The doctor calls himself poor, foolish and stupid because:

(a) There were no safety measures.

(b) There was none to help him.

(d) None of these.

Ans: (c) There was no medicine.

4. What did the doctor do at this juncture?

(a) Sat silently.

(b) Did nothing.

(d) Smiled feebly.

Ans: (d) Smiled feebly.

5. Find the word in the passage which means ‘weak’.

(a) Strike.

(b) Lurked.

(d) Poor.

Ans: (c) Feeble.

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

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

(i) ‘The sound was a familiar one’. What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?

Ans: The sound heard a familiar sound. He thought it to be the sound of some rats. The doctor heard it three times ! He thought that some rats on the beam might be doing it. The sound stopped, he lit a beedi and paced up and down in the room. Then he took his seat in the chair in front of the table.

(ii) What two ‘important’ and ‘earth-shaking’ decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?

Ans: The doctor took an important decision of shaving daily. He would grow a thin moustache to look more handsome.

Another earth shaking decision was to keep an attractive smile on his face. He desired to marry a fat and rich woman doctor who could not run.

(iii) ‘I looked into the mirror and smiled,’ says the doctor. A little later he says, ‘I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.’ What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?

Ans: When the doctor first smiles, he thinks to be attractive and handsome as he was still an unmarried doctor. His attractive smile will help him to look more handsome and pretty. In the second instance the snake had overpowered his arm. He was losing all strength. Death was before him. There were no medicines with him. He thought himself a poor wretched fellow. A feeble smile of helplessness came out from his mouth. He at once thought of God and His presence. He felt a great change in his views because a man is a poor thing before a danger. He becomes helpless like him when there is some frightful incident.

II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality.

1. The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)

The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

2. The person he wants to marry

The person he actually marries

3. His thoughts when he looks into the mirror

His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm.

Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.

Ans: The story is very humorous when he dreams to marry a fat woman. But when he is actually in the midst of an extreme situation, he realises that only a thin man can run a race like him at the time of need. Secondly the doctor had meagre articles with him. The rascal took them away leaving a dirty vest. On one side he wants money and material but on the other side he realises the little worth of his vest even.

1. The doctor is a man of possessions. Having a little practice, he wants to be an ambitious person. He longs for wealth, health, beauty and money. He wants to be handsome with an attractive smile on his face. All things vanish when he is put in a deep danger.

2. The doctor has desired to marry a fat woman. She must be an attractive lady doctor. She should be wealthy and prosperous. She must be a fat woman so that she could not catch when the doctor ran.

In the end one can see all his dreams dashed to the ground. He neither gets a wife nor money even. He remains bachelor and has to spend his life on his available resources.

3. When he looks into the mirror, varied thoughts overpower his mind. He desires to make his presence felt by others. He dresses his hair to look straight and neat. He decides to shave daily and grows a thin moustache to look more handsome. He wishes to have an attractive smile on his face. Being a bachelor, he decides to look more pretty. Then he desires to marry a fat and rich woman doctor.

But all his thoughts are gone when the snake falls on the ground like a rubber tube. It lands on his shoulder and coils on his left arm. He petrifies with fear and turns like a stone. He feels the presence of Supreme Power. His arm starts losing its strength. He realises a throbbing pain. Death lurks over his head. He considers himself to be a poor fellow.

All these facts create humour. They represent and differentiate dreams with the reality. Dreams are nothing except vague and foolish ideas. A man looms on the high peak but when there is reality, there is a reverse gear. He realises the actual position and thereby his mistaken thoughts get changed.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

I. Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you that the author (a) was afraid of the snake (b) was proud of his appearance (c) had a sense of humour (d) was no longer a raid of the snake.

1. I was turned to stone.

2. I was no mere image cut in granite.

3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.

4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, “O God”.

5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out.

6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.

7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.

8. I was after all a doctor, and a doctor too on top of it!

9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness …! The rascal could have taken it and used it after a rinse in soap and water.

10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.

Ans:

Sentences	About the Author
1. I was turned to stone.	1. was afraid of the snake.
2. I was no mere image cut in granite.	2. had a sense of humour.
3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.	3. was afraid of the snake.
4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, “O God”.	4. had a sense of humour.
5. I didn’t tremble. I didn’t cry out.	5. was no longer afraid of the snake.
6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.	6. was proud of his appearance.
7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.	7. had a sense of humour.
8. I was after all a doctor, and a doctor too on top of it!	8. was proud of his appearance.
9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness …! The rascal could have taken it and used it after a rinse in soap and water.	9. had a sense of humour.
10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.	10. was no longer a friend of the snake.

II. Expression used to show fear:

Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences:

1. I was turned ________.

2. I sat there holding _______.

3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like

Ans: There are many expressions in the story that tell us that the author was frightened.

(i) I was turned to stone.

(ii) I sat there holding my breath.

(iii) In the light of the lamp I sat there like a stone image in the flesh.

III. In the sentences given below some words and expressions are variously mean that on.

• is very frightened

• is too scared to move

• frightened by something that happens suddenly

• makes someone feel frightened. Match the meanings with the words/ expressions in Italic appropriate meaning next in the sentence. The first one has been done for you.

(i) I knew a man as following me, I was scared out of my wits. (very frightened.)

Ans: Very frightened -‘I knew a man was following me, I was scared that out of my wits.

(ii) I got a fright when I realized how close I was to the cliff edge.

Ans: Frightened by something that suddenly – I got a fright when I realized how close I was to the cliff edge.

(iii) He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him.

Ans: is very frightened – He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him.

(iv) You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that.

Ans: Frightened something that happens suddenly – You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that.

(v) Wait until I tell his story-it will make your hair stand on end.

Ans: Makes some one feel frightened – Wait until I tell his story-it will make your hair stand on end.

(vi) Paralyzed with fear, the boy faced his abductors.

Ans: too scared to move – Paralyzed with fear, the boy faced his abductors.

(vii) The boy hid behind the door, not moving muscle.

Ans: is very frightened – The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle.

IV. Reported Questions

Study these sentences:

(a) His friend asked, “Did you see the snake the next day, doctor?”

His friend asked the doctor whether/ if he had seen the snake the next day. The little girl wondered, “Will I be home before the TV show begins?”

The little girl wondered if/whether she would be home before the TV show began.

(b) Someone asked, “Why has the thief left the vest behind ?”

Someone asked why the thief had left the vest behind.

(a) The words if/whether are used to report questions which begin with: do, will, can, have, are, etc. These questions can be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

(b) Questions beginning with why/when/ where/ how/which what are reported using these same words.

The reporting verbs we use in questions, with if/whether/why/when etc., are: ask, inquire and wonder.

WH family वाले वाक्यों में, “कोमा, इन्वरटिड कोमा को हटाकर if या whether नहीं लगाते शेष उपरोक्त नियम ही लागू होते हैं।

Remember that in reported speech:
(i) the present tense changes to past tense.
(ii) here, today, tomorrow, yesterday etc.,
change to there, that day, the next day, the day before, etc.
(iii) I/you change to me/him/he. etc., as necessary.
Examples:
• He said to me, I don’t believe you.’
He said he did not believe me.
• She said to him, ‘I don’t believe you’.
She told him that she did not believe him.

याद रखें:

(i) Present परिवर्तित होता है Tense Past Tense में

(ii) Here, today, tomorrow, yesterday, now आदि को बदलते हैं -There, that day, the next day, the day before and then etc.

(iii) Ist person – subject changes with

IInd person – Object changes with

IIIrd person – No change.

Report these questions, if/whether or why/when/where/ how / which / what. Remember the italicised verbs change into the past tense.

1. Meena asked her friend, “Do you think your teacher will come today?”

Ans: Meena asked her friend if she/he thought her teacher would come that day.

2. David asked his colleague. “Where will you go this summer?”

Ans: David asked his colleague where he would go this summer.

3. He asked the little boy. “Why are you studying English?”

Ans: He asked the little boy why he was studying English.

4. She asked me, “When are we going to leave?”

Ans: 4. She asked me when they were going to leave.

She asked me when she was going to leave.

5. Pran asked me, “Have you finished reading the newspaper?”

Ans: Pran asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.

6. Seema asked her, “How long have you lived here?”

Ans: Seema asked her how long she had lived there.

7. Sheila asked the children, “Are you ready to do the work?”

Ans: Sheila asked the children if they were ready to do the work.

SPEAKING

Using some of the expressions given above in exercise II-C. talk about an incident when you were very scared. You may have a competition to decide whose story was the most frightening.

Ans: A Frightening Incident

Yesterday my parents had gone to attend a wedding ceremony in the nearby colony. I was alone in my house with my younger sister. She was sleeping. It was a chilly night. Suddenly she gave a shriek. I was very frightened. I neared her to give her solace. She told that she was frightened when a kidnapper overpowered her to put in his car. When she got some relief, I heard a ringing of the bell. The light had gone when the bell rang. The atmosphere was all misty. Paralyzed with fear we both moved. We approached the door with torch light. Thank God that our parents were at the door. He heaved a sigh of relief and told the incident that had made our hair stand on end.

DICTATION

The following paragraph is about the Indian Cobra. Read it twice and close your books. Your teacher will then dictate the paragraph to you. Write it down with appropriate punctuation marks.

Note: I you must read the paragraph in your text-booh).

Ans: Indian Cobra, generally classified as Naga Raja, is the common name for members of the family of venomous snakes, known for their intimidating looks and deadly bite. Cobras are recognized by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the Cobras’ heads. Obviously the best prevention is to avoid getting bitten. This is facilitated by the fact that humans are not the natural prey of any venomous snake. We are a bit large for them to swallow whole and they have no means of chopping us up into bit size pieces. Nearly all snake bites in humans are the result of a snake defending itself when it feels threatened. In general snakes are shy and will simply leave if you give them a chance.

Some Punctuation marks:

Full stop	(.)	Comma	(,)
Mark of interrogation	(?)	Mark of exclamation	(!)
Apostrophe	(‘)	Semicolon	(;)
Hyphen-dash	(-)

WRITING TASKS

1. Try to rewrite the story without its humour, merely as a frightening incident. What details or parts of the story would you leave out?

Ans: For self-attempt.

2. Read the description of the picture given below. (TOI, 14 June, 1999) Make up a story about what the monkey is thinking, or why it is looking into a mirror. Write a paragraph about it.

The Fairest of Them All: A monkey preens itself using a piece of mirror, in the Delhi Ridge. (to preen oneself means to spend a lot of time making yourself look attractive, and then admiring your appearance. The word is used in disapproval.)

Ans: A Monkey on the Delhi Ridge

Once a monkey was leaping from tree-to-tree. By chance his eyes fell on a small piece of mirror lying near a tree. He picked it up and saw his reflection. It was happy over his face. It started admiring his red face and small hands to hold things. It went on preening into it and thought that it should have a straight face like the human beings. When it was praising his red eyes and sharp teeth, a few vultures started hovering it. They gave a shrill noise. When the monkey turned his face in fear and looked above, the mirror fell. All his dreams vanished. The monkey ran to scare himself from the vultures.

TRANSLATION

I. The text you read is a translation of a story by a well-known Malayalam writer, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

In translating a story from one language to another, a translator must keep the content intact. However, the language and the style differ in different translation of the same text.

Here are two translations of the opening paragraphs of a novel by the Japanese writer. Haruki Murakami. Read them and answer the questions given below:

A
When the phone rang I was in the kitchen, boiling a pot full of Spaghetti and whistling along with an FM broadcast of the overture to Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie, which has to be the perfect music for cooking pasta.
I wanted to ignore the phone, not only because the Spaghetti was nearly done, but because Claudio Abbado was bringing the London Symphony to its musical climax.
B
I’m in the kitchen cooking Spaghetti when the woman calls. Another moment until the spaghetti is done; there I am, whistling the prelude to Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra along with the FM radio, Perfect Spaghetti-cooking music!
I hear the telephone ring but tell myself, ignore it. Let the Spaghetti finish cooking. It’s almost done, and besides, Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra are coming to a crescendo.

1. Compare the two translations using the following points:

• the tense of narration (past, present tense)

• short incomplete sentences

• sentence length

2. Which of these translations do you like? Give reasons for your choice.

Ans: 1. In Paragraph A one can see the use of past tense while the paragraph B is written in the Present Tense.

2. Paragraph B is more comprehensive because it is simple having short sentences in the present tense.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph. (of about 30-40 words)

Q.1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?

Ans: Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He said she had the potential. He tuned two large drums and said to her, “Don’t listen through ears, but try to sense it some other way.” Indeed she was able to sense the vibration in her body.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in about 30-10 words each:

Q.1. Describe the doctor’s house.

Ans: The doctor’s house was a small one. It was not electrified. There were not many things in the room. The roof was tiled that rested on the beam over the wall. The room had two windows with one wall facing the open yard.

Q.2. What did the doctor do to make himself look handsome?

Ans: There was a mirror in the room. The doctor looked into the mirror. He decided to take a close look on his face. He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. So that he may look handsome. He smiled while looking into the mirror. He decided that he will always keep that charming smile on his face.

Q.3. What happened to the doctor. while he was sitting in his chair?

Ans: While the doctor was sitting in the chair, the snake landed on his shoulder. Then, it slid from his shoulder and coiled around his left arm above the elbow. Its hood was spread and its head was three or four inches away from the doctor’s face.

Q.4. What kind of woman did the doctor think of marrying?

Why did doctor want to marry fat woman?

Ans: Doctor thought about marrying a rich lady doctor. He thought that his wife must be fat. So that when he committed some silly mistake and needed to run away she might not be able to run after him and catch him.

Q.5. How did the snake make its presence feel to the doctor?

Ans: The doctor occupied his seat in the chair. Suddenly he heard a thud. Before he could understand anything, a fat snake wriggled over the back of the chair and landed on his shoulder. Then it slid from his shoulder and coiled around his left arm above the elbow. Its hood was spread out and its head was hardly three or four inches away from his face.

Q.6. In the story ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ the snake has been compared to three objects. What are they?

Ans: The snake is compared to three objects:

(i) a rubber tube.

(ii) a thick leaden rod.

(iii) a rod made of molten fire.

The writer compares it with a rubber tube because it falls with a thud. It is compared to leaden rod because it looks like a rod.

Q.7. What two important decisions did the doctor take?

Ans: The first important decision which the doctor took was that he would try to look more handsome. For this he would shave daily, grow a thin moustache and keep an attractive smile on his face. The second decision was that he would marry a fat but rich woman doctor.

Q.8. Why did the narrator smile when death lurked four inches away?

Ans: When death lurked four inches away, narrator thought what medicine he would take if it struck him. There was no medicine in the room. The narrator was a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. He forget his danger and smile feebly.

Q.9. Is there any similarity between the doctor and the snake? If so, what is it?

Ans: There is a similarity between the doctor and the snake. Both of them were admirers of their own beauty. Both of them were victims of self adoration. The doctor admits that he was admirer of beauty and in the same way snake was carried by its beauty.

Q.10. Did the doctor find this incident humorous or frightening or both? Give reasons.

Ans: The doctor found the incident frightening as well as humorous. It was very frightening as the snake’s head was only three or four inches away from his face. It was humorous as both the doctor and the snake was admiring its beauty simultaneously.

Q.11. What thoughts come to the narrator’s mind about the snake when he saw it looking into the mirror?

Ans: When the narrator saw the snake looking into the mirror the narrator was wondering if snake was admiring its own beauty. He also thought that it might be thinking of take a decision to grow a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.

Q.12. The narrator in the lesson “The Snake and the Mirror’ felt pain in his the left arm. What was the cause of the bit pain and what kind of pain it was?

Ans: When the snake landed on the narrator, it feel like a thud on his shoulder. The snake coiled around its left arm above the elbow. The cause of the pain was when snake had tightened itself around his arm. He bap felt as strength was being drained.

Q.13. When the snake landed on the shoulder of the narrator he did not react. Why?

Ans: When the snake landed on the shoulder of the narrator he did not react because he was turned to stone. He held his breath. He felt the great presence of the creator of this world Du and this universe. He tried to write in imagination ‘O God’.

THOUGHT PROVOKING MODULE

Q.1. Doctor in ‘The Snake and the Mirror’ acts in a funny manner. Can you identify such a doctor in And Jureal life?

Ans: Doctor in the text lives in a house which is not even electrified. He looks into the mirror and takes silly decision like growing a thin moustache as well as marrying a fat woman.

In real life we can never imagine doctor acting in such a funny manner. bos He will show his knowledge and talk in a wise manner. He would never take such silly decisions.

Q.2. Death lurked four inches away from the doctor. It was his strength which saved him from the snake. If suppose you were in place of doctor how would you react?

Ans: The doctor confronted the snake just ash three or four inches away. He was very strong and did not move an inch. When the snake landed on the doctor, it fell like a thud. The doctor held his breath and tried to remember God.

If had been in the place of doctor I but would not have the strength to face the snake in sucgh a way. I would have either fainted or run away to avoid the snake.

Q.3. What can you say about the nature of doctor? How does he not leave his humour even amidst such a situation? What impression do you form of the doctor?

Ans: The doctor is a humourous character. He faced the snake bravely. But even the snake is lurking four inches away from the mirror, doctor tries to talk about the beauty of the snake. Doctor ran away from the house. Even when he went back, he was shocked to find that vest had been left as final insult. The doctor felt that thief should have carried the vest as well.

The doctor is really a light hearted fellow. I really feel that it is necessary to confront such characters who just give us happiness and joy.

LONG ANSWERS TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer these questions in about 100-150 words each:

Q.1. Did the doctor keep his presence of mind intact when he saw the snake?

Ans: When the snake landed on the doctor, he kept his presence of mind. He didn’t jump, he didn’t trouble and didn’t cry out. The snake slithered around his shoulder but he sat there holding his breath. He kept his mind active. He sat in the room like a stone image in the flesh. He knew that at the slightest moment the snake would strike him. He tried to forget the danger and smiled at himself. If the doctor had reacted and tried to run away, he might have been struck. Thus it was the presence of mind of the doctor that saved him from being bitten.

Q.2. Did the doctor find this incident humorous or frightening or both? Give reasons.

Ans: The doctor found the incident frightening as well as humorous. It was very frightening because the snake’s head was only three or four inches away from his face. Out of fear he hold his breathe and sat like a piece of stone. He remembered God.

The incident was humorous also. Just a few moments before the doctor had been admiring his own looks in the mirror and now the snake was doing the same thing. After the first glance and combing of the hair, the doctor had looked at his reflection in the mirror more closely. Now the snake too, after having seen his reflection in the mirror once, had moved towards it to have a closer look of itself in the mirror. Thus the incident seemed to him humorous as well.

Q.3. Is there a similarity between the doctor and the snake? If so, what is it?

Ans: There is a striking similarity between the doctor and the snake. Both of them were admirers of their own beauty. Both of them were victims of self-adoration. The doctor admits that in those days he was a great admirer of beauty, rather his own beauty, he believed in making himself look handsome. While taking a close look at his face in the mirror, he took two important decisions to look more handsome. First, he decided that he would shave daily and grow a thin moustache. Secondly, he decided that he would always keep an attractive smile loof on his face. As soon as the snake looked into the mirror and saw its reflection, it forgot the doctor. It unwound itself from his arm, crept into the table and moved towards the mirror, perhaps to enjoy its reflection at closer quarters.

Q.4. Justify the title “The Snake and the Mirror”.

Ans: The complete lesson revolves round the narrator, the snake and the mirror. It has been entitled “The Snake and the Mirror’. In the beginning we find that narrator hears familiar sound. When he sits in the chair, then he hears a dull thud. Then the snake lands on his shoulder. The doctor is so terrified. He sits there like a stone. All of a sudden he feels the presence of creator of this world. The death lurks four inches away. The doctor forgets his danger and smiles feebly. All of a sudden snake horns its head and looks into the mirror. Then it creeps and moves towards the mirror. It wants to enjoy its close reflection in the mirror. The doctor gets his chance and leaves the room immediately.

Q.5. The snake has been compared to three objects. What are those? How are the objects similar to the snake?

Ans: The snake is compared to three objects:

(i) a rubber tube.

(ii) a thick leaden rod. and

(iii) a rod made of molten fire.

The writer compares it to a rubber tube when it falls on the ground with a thud. This comparison is apt. The snake was not only long like a rubber tube but because of its elastic and fleshy body it made a sound like that of a rubber tube. The writer compares the snake to a leaden rod because it looked like a rod and was heavy like lead. It began to tighten its grip and the doctor felt as if his arm was going to break under its weight. The writer compares the snake to a rod made of molten fire. The snake’s head was very closer to the doctor’s face. Its hot breath must be scalding the doctor’s face.

Q.6. What made the doctor run away to his friend’s house? In what condition did he find on his return?

What was the final humiliation the doctor faced?

Ans: The doctor had to run as the snake had entered his house. The moment the snake went away, the doctor ran to reach a friend’s house. He smeared oil all over himself and took a bath. He changed into fresh clothes. Next morning he went back to his room to remove his things. But he was very shocked to find that there was very little to carry. Some thief had removed most of his things. The room had been thoroughly cleaned. The most humiliation was when he found that the thief had left dirty vest as an insult. The doctor felt that thief should have carried the vest as well.

Q.7. The doctor smiles two times in the story but each time for different reasons. Explain.

Ans: The doctor has been portrayed as a different character. In the beginning. of the story the doctor looked into the mirror closely. He decided to shave daily and grow a thin moustache. So that he may look handsome. He smiled while looking into the mirror. He decided that he will always keep that charming smile on his face.

Secondly, when death lurked four inches away, narrator thought what medicine he would take if it struck him. There was no medicine in the room. The narrator was a poor, foolish and stupid doctor. He forgot his danger and smiled feebly.

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Parimal

Hi! my Name is Parimal Roy. I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy (B.A.) from Silapathar General College. Currently, I am working as an HR Manager at Dev Library. It is a website that provides study materials for students from Class 3 to 12, including SCERT and NCERT notes. It also offers resources for BA, B.Com, B.Sc, and Computer Science, along with postgraduate notes. Besides study materials, the website has novels, eBooks, health and finance articles, biographies, quotes, and more.

NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 5 The Snake and the Mirror

The Snake and the Mirror

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