A Short Monsoon Dairy – NCERT Solutions

Q. Why is the author not able to see Bijju?

Ans. The author could not see Bijju because of the mist that concealed the hills. He could only hear his voice but could not see him.

Q. What are the two ways in which the hills appear to change when the mist comes up?

Ans. When the mist comes up, it covers the hills and spreads silence.

Q. When does the monsoon season begin and when does it end? How do you prepare to face the monsoon?

Ans. The monsoon season in Mussorie begins from June 24/25. By August 2, the people are fed up with rain. It ends by August 31. Then begins winter rains which end by late March. We take out our rain coats and umbrellas to face the monsoon.

Q. Which hill-station does the author describe in the diary entry?

Ans. Mussoorie

Q. For how many days does it rain without stopping? What does the author do on these days?

Ans. It rains non-stop for eight or nine days. The author keeps pacing the room and looking out of the window.

Q. Where do the snakes and rodents take shelter? Why?

Ans. The rodents and snakes take shelter in roofs, attics and godowns. They do so because their holes are flooded with rain water.

Q. What did the author receive in the mail?

Ans. The author received a cheque in the mail.

Q. Look carefully at the diary entries for June 24-25, August 2 and March 23. Now write down the changes that happen as the rains progress from June to March.

Ans. Rains in Mussoorie begin in June and end by March. June 24 is the first day of monsoon mist which covered the hills and spreads silence. On August 2 it rained all night and made sleeping difficult. By late March ends winter as well as the rains.

Q. Why did the grandmother ask the children not to kill the Chuchundar?

Ans. The grandmother told the children not to kill the Chuchundars because they brought good luck and money.

Q. What signs do we find in Nature which show that the monsoons are about to end?

Ans. By the end of the monsoon the greenery is at its peak. The seeds of the cobra lily turn red. A rainbow is formed in the sky.

Q. Complete the following sentences.

1. Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because __________________.
2. The writer describes the hill station and valley as __________________.
3. The leopard was successful in __________________ but had to flee when __________.
4. The minivets are easily noticed because __________________.
5. It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when __________________.
6. During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because __________________.

Answer

1. Bijju is not seen but his voice is heard because dense mist covers and hides the hills.
2. The writer describes the hill station and valley as ‘A paradise that might have been.’
3. The leopard was successful in killing a dog but had to flee when Bijju’s mother arrived crying curses.
4. The minivets are easily noticed because of their bright colours.
5. It looks like a fashion display on the slopes when they are covered by a variety of flowers.
6. During the monsoon season, snakes and rodents are found in roofs and attics because their holes are flooded with water and these places provide them convenient shelter.

Q. Although tin roofs are given to springing unaccountable leaks, there is a feeling of being untouched by, and yet in touch with, the rain.’

1. Why has the writer used the word, ‘springing’?
2. How is the writer untouched by the rain?
3. How is the writer in touch with the rain at the same time?

Answer

1. The word ‘springing’ is used to show suddenness with which water starts leaking.
2. Because he is inside the room.
3. He hears the drumming of rain on the tin roof. He also looks out of the window to see the rains.

Q. Mention a few things that can happen when there is endless rain for days together?

Ans. A long spell of rain makes life miserable. One is closed up in his room. Everything becomes damp and soggy. Rodents, snakes and insects enter the house for shelter.

Q. What is the significance of cobra lily in relation to the monsoon season, its beginning and end?

Ans. At first cobra lily appears with the arrival of the monsoon. When the cobra seeds begin to turn red, it indicates the rains are coming to an end.

Q. Put the verbs in the brackets into their proper forms. The first one is done for you.

1. We (get out) of the school bus. The bell (ring) and everyone (rush) to class.
2. The traffic (stop). Some people (sit) on the road and they (shout) slogans.
3. I (wear) my raincoat. It (rain) and people (get) wet.
4. She (see) a film. She (narrate) it to her friends who (listen) carefully.
5. We (go) to the exhibition. Some people (buy) clothes while others (play) games.
6. The class (is) quiet. Some children (read) books and the rest (draw).

Answert:

1. We got out of the school bus. The bell was ringing and everyone was rushing to Class.
2. The traffic stopped. Some people were sitting on the road and they were shouting slogans.
3. I wore my raincoat. It was raining and people were getting wet.
4. She saw a film. She was narrating it to her friends who were listening carefully.
5. We went to the exhibition. Some people were buying clothes while others were playing games.
6. The Class was quiet. Some children were reading books and the rest were drawing.

Q. Here are some words from the lesson which describe different kinds of sounds.

drum, swish, tinkle, caw, drip

Match these words with their correct meanings.

1. to fall in small drops.
2. to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly.
3. to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound.
4. harsh sound made by birds. (e) ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.).

Answer

1. to fall in small drops – drip
2. to make a sound by hitting a surface repeatedly – drum
3. to move quickly through the air, making a soft sound – swish
4. harsh sound made by birds – caw
5. ringing sound (of a bell or breaking glass, etc.) – tinkle

Q. Now fill in the blanks using the correct form of the words given above.

1. Ramesh ____________ on his desk in impatience.
2. Rain water ____________ from the umbrella all over the carpet.
3. The pony ____________ its tail.
4. The _________________ of breaking glass woke me up.
5. The ____________ of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.

Answer

1. Ramesh drummed on his desk in impatience.
2. Rain water dripped from the umbrella all over the carpet.
3. The pony swished its tail.
4. The tinkling of breaking glass woke me up.
5. The cawing of the raven disturbed the child’s sleep.

Q. Complete each sentence below by using appropriate phrase from the ones given below.

sure enough, colourful enough, serious enough, kind enough, big enough, fair enough, brave enough, foolish enough, anxious enough

1. I saw thick black clouds in the sky. And ___________ it soon started raining heavily.
2. The blue umbrella was ___________ for the brother and sister.
3. The butterflies are ___________ to get noticed.
4. The lady was ___________ to chase the leopard.
5. The boy was ___________ to call out to his sister.
6. The man was ___________ to offer help.
7. The victim’s injury was ___________ for him to get admitted in hospital.
8. That person was ___________ to repeat the same mistake again.
9. He told me he was sorry and he would compensate for the loss. I said, ‘___________.’

Answer

1. sure enough
2. big enough
3. colourful enough
4. brave enough
5. anxious enough
6. kind enough
7. serious enough
8. foolish enough
9. Fair enough