Grade IX

Lesson 2 – The Adventures of Toto

- Ruskin Bond

Supplementary Reader

Soul of the Chapter

The narrator’s grandfather loved animals. He had his own private zoo. He bought

a baby monkey from a tonga-driver and named it Toto. He wanted Toto to add to his

collection for the zoo. The narrator’s grandmother did not like his pets. So, Toto’s

presence was kept a secret.

Toto was a mischievous monkey. It was kept in a little closet which opened into

the narrator’s room. Toto tore off author’s school blazer. He peeled off the plaster too.

Toto was kept with other animals. There he did not allow them to live peacefully.

The grandfather had to collect his pension from Saharanpur. He took Toto with him. He

had to pay extra fare for Toto. Toto was ultimately accepted by the family. He was put

into a stable with Nana, the family donkey. Toto teased Nana. As a result, Toto and

Nana never became friends.

Once Toto nearly boiled himself alive. He used to take bath in warm water. One

day, a large kitchen kettle had been left on fire to boil water for tea. Toto entered the

kettle. Soon the water began to boil. Toto raised himself. It was cold outside. He sat

down again. He continued hopping up and down till grandmother came to rescue him.

Toto did not give up his mischiefs. He tore things to pieces. He tore up the dresses of

the aunt. He broke plates and utensils. One day he entered the dining room and ran out

with a plate of pulao. After finishing the pulao, he threw the plate at the grandmother.

Toto caused much loss to the family. They could not tolerate him anymore. In

frustration, grandfather sold Toto back to the tonga-driver and heaved a sigh of relief.

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 NCERT Questions

1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?

Grandfather is an animal lover. He has his own private zoo. Whenever he comes

across any attractive animal, he buys it at any cost. He sees Toto, the monkey, with a

tongo-driver. He is impressed and finds Toto, a ‘pretty monkey’. So, he buys it and

adds it to his private zoo.

2. “Toto was a pretty monkey”. In what sense Is Toto pretty?

Toto is pretty monkey. His bright eyes sparkle with mischief. His teeth are pearly

white. He has a long tail which adds to his beauty. The author’s grandfather calls him

a pretty monkey.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket

collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Toto is a mischievous monkey. He can be managed only by grandfather. So, he carries

him to Saharanpur where he has to collect his pension. He takes Toto in a bag. The

ticket collector classifies Toto as a dog because he does not qualify the category of

a human and there is no other category except dog.

4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto

almost boil himself alive?

During the winter season, Toto was provided with warm water in a large bowl for

bathing. Like the author, he would check the temperature of water with his hand.

Then he would step into the water. He learnt it from the author. One day, he mistook

the water boiling for tea to be the water for bath. He got into the kettle. When the

water began to boil he raised himself to get out of the kettle but it was very cold

outside. So he decided to sit down again. Toto felt uncomfortable. He continued

hopping up and down till grandmother came to his rescue.

5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of a pet we could keep for

long?”

Toto is a mischievous monkey. He has been troubling all the animals in the zoo and the

family, Grandfather and his family are not so rich that they can afford the frequent

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 loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper. So, the author says that Toto is not

the sort of a pet they can keep for long.

Solved Question Bank

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did grandfather buy Toto?

Grandfather was an animal lover. Whenever he saw any attractive animal, he would

buy it at any cost. He was impressed by the monkey, Toto. He bought it to add him to

his private zoo.

2. Why did grandfather hide him for some time?

Grandfather did not like grandfather’s hobby of collecting animals. She was never

happy with the arrival of any new animal in the house. Grandfather wanted to avoid

this fuss. So, he hid him for some time.

3. How did Toto take his bath?

Toto enjoyed taking bath in warm water during winter. Like the author, he would first

check the temperature of water with his hand. Then he would step into the bath tub

up to his neck. He would rub himself all over with soap.

4. Why did Toto enter the large kitchen kettle?

One day, Toto found a large kitchen kettle full of water. It was kept on the fire to

boil water for tea. Toto mistook it to be the water for bath. So, he entered the

kettle with his head sticking out from it.

5. How did Toto behave with Nana?

Toto was very naughty. He never got along well with other animals including Nana, the

donkey. He was found fastening on to his long ears with his sharp teeth. He

frightened the donkey.

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6. How was author’s grandmother different from grandfather? Whom do you like

the most?

Author’s grandmother was different from his grandfather. She did not like animals,

whereas his grandfather was an animal lover. She always fussed when his grandfather

brought home some new birds or animals. I like grandfather the most.

7. How can you say that Toto was not ordinary animal?

Toto was not an ordinary animal. He was a very mischievous monkey. He became a

headache for the family. He was so naughty that grandfather had to sell it back to

the real owner.

8. From where did the grandfather buy Toto and for how much?

The grandfather bought Toto from a tonga driver. He paid five rupees to buy it.

Long Answer Questions

1. Give a brief description of Toto, the monkey.

Toto was a pretty monkey. He bright eyes sparkled with mischief. His teeth were

pearly white. His hands always looked dried up. His fingers were quick and wicked. He

had a long tail which he used as his third hand. His long tail added to his beauty. He

was just like a naughty child. He was always looking for pranks. He enjoyed upsetting

everything. Once a large kettle containing water had been left on the fire to prepare

tea. Toto removed the lid and got into the kettle. Grandmother saw it and saved him.

He never let his companions in peace. He often frightened people by either grinning

or by throwing things at them. Toto was really an adventurous monkey.

2. Why was Toto’s presence kept a secret? Where was he kept during this period?

How did he behave? What does it tell about the character of grandfather? Do

you think we should keep something secret from the family?

Grandmother always fussed whenever a new bird or animal was brought in the house.

Grandfather decided that Toto’s presence would be kept secret from her until she

was in a good mood. Grandfather kept Toto in author’s bedroom’s closet. He

completely ruined the closet. He turned the author’s school blazer into shreds. He

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 was transferred to a cage in the servants’ quarters. Toto did not allow any of his

companions to sleep at night. Grandfather was an animal lover. But he cared for his

family too. He did not want to annoy grandmother. It is not good to keep a secret

from the family but sometimes we have to do this for their own good.

3. Give a brief character sketch of author’s grandfather describing his qualities.

What values are reflected from his character?

The grandfather was an animal lover. He was an untrained zoologist. He had made his

own private zoo in his house. He was very kind towards birds and animals. Whenever

he came across any animal, he would buy it at any cost, if he liked it. Sometimes he

had to bear the anger of the grandmother. He was a person of strong determination.

Once he bought a monkey and named it Toto. Toto troubled him in his zoo, made him

pay extra fare but still he loved Toto. Love for animals, determination, good sense of

humour are some of the qualities that are reflected in his character.

4. How was Toto an expensive deal for grandfather? Do you think it was a lesson

for grandfather?

Since his arrival, Toto started damaging the house and the things in it. He pulled out

the peg, tore wall papers, ruined the closet and tore the author’s blazer into rags.

While going to Saharanpur, at the railway station, he had to pay fare for Toto too.

The grandfather thought that Toto would adjust with other animals in the zoo but it

never happened. Then, the grandfather realised that it was not a very good deal. He

found the Tonga driver and sold Toto back to him. Yes, I think it was a lesson for

grandfather to learn that animals should not be tamed. They can live happily only in

the natural habitat. They prove expensive if we act against the law of nature.

5. In the story ‘The Adventures of Toto’ we get a very clear idea of the author’s

grandparents and their habits and natures. While his grandfather was an animal

lover, his grandmother had other qualities. Make a character study of

Grandmother in the light of the above remark.

Grandmother lived in a large bungalow with a variety of animals that grandfather

kept as pets in the servants’ quarters. She being a tolerant person, had allowed

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 animals to be on the premises but not in the main house. She was a proud homemaker

and had papered cupboards with ornamental paper. She accepted grandfather’s ways

and finally allowed Toto to be lodged with Nana the family donkey. Grandmother had

an innovative streak and provided the monkey warm water for a bath which had

become a great source of fun for the animal. Her sharp presence of mind had

rescued the animal from being sinked when Toto had plunged into boiling water. She

was a good cook and generous hostess and served biryani in special plates at her

table. Thus when Toto broke her precious china, grandfather realized that her

patience had been severely tested and wisely disposed off Toto.

6. Do you think, it is advisable to keep a monkey like Toto as part of pets in the

house? Why/Why not?

No, it is not advisable to have a pet like Toto. Toto was a naughty monkey. Such an

animal may harm the children at home and may damage the things around him. It may

hurt the guests too. Moreover, animals remain happy in their natural surroundings.

The wilds are always beautiful in the lap of the wild as they are born free and

brought up in that environment. In the context of the story, Toto was devoted to

mischiefs due to its instincts. It was impossible for the family to afford the

frequent loss caused by Toto. Moreover, he kept disturbing other pets in the house.

They are happy to be free. We must not hunt or catch animals for our selfish

motives. Some animals may prove dangerous too.

7. Do you have a pet? Describe your pet and compare it with Toto, the monkey.

Yes, I have a pet. It is a dog. It is also very naughty but not as mischievous as Toto.

Its name is Puffy. It was only a month old when I brought it home. In the beginning,

it caused a lot of trouble for us but gradually it improved. We provided him training

as well. It does not damage the objects around him. He plays with his toys only. He is

very friendly with our guests too. He can differentiate between knows and strangers.

Puffy is like a member of our family. He is very active and vigilant. He is an epitome

of loyalty. He keeps sitting beside the main gate at night. When Puffy is there, no

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intruder can dare enter the house. He is very powerful. We feel secure in his

presence. I pray to God to keep him healthy.

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