NCERT Solutions For Class 9 Beehive

I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.
1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?
3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
4. Name five kinds of flutes.

II. Answer each question in a short paragraph.
1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
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

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.
2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets? 
3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?

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.

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

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. 

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

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 everyday, 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!

1. “A slumber did my spirit seal,” says the poet. That is, a deep sleep ‘closed off’ his soul (or mind). How does the poet react to his loved one’s death? Does he feel bitter grief ? Or does he feel a great peace?

2. The passing of time will no longer affect her, says the poet. Which lines of the poem say this?

3. How does the poet imagine her to be, after death? Does he think of her as a person living in a very happy state (a ‘heaven’)? Or does he see her now as a part of nature? In which lines of the poem do you find your answer?