Story: A Day in the Zoo
Author: Gerald Durrell

 

WBBSE Class 9 : Lesson  4




A Day in the Zoo by Gerald Durrell

 

Textual questions:

Exercise 1

 Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives:


1. The average day in a zoo begins just before

            (a) dusk

            (b) dawn

            (c) afternoon

            (d) evening

 

2. The birds searching the dewy grass on the lawn were

            (a) peahens

            (b) peacocks

            (c) robins 

            (d) thrushes

 

3. Stephen with a broom in his hand was guarding over the

            (a) bears

            (b) gorilla

            (c) apes

            (d) armadillo

 

4. The name of the black Celebes ape was

            (a) Etam

            (b) Jeremy

            (c) Mike

            (d) Stephen

 

5. The reptiles dozed in the temperature of

            (a) sixty degrees

            (b) seventy degrees

            (c) eighty degrees

            (d) ninety degrees.

 

Exercise 2

           

            Answer the following questions within fifteen words:

 

(1) How does the sky look as one is awakened by the birdsong?

            Ans: The sky looks slightly tinged with yellow when one is awakened by the birdsong.


(2) How do the parrots and parakeets salute the people?

            Ans: The parrots and parakeets salute people with a cacophony of sounds. Suku, the grey parrot cries, "I'm a very fine bird."


(3) What do all the animals do at the start of a new day?

            Ans: All the animals, excited and eager at the start of a new day, bustle about the cages


(4) As the light fades, where does the robin fly off to?

            Ans: As the light fades, the robin flies off to roost in the mimosa tree.

            or

                The robin flies off to roost in the mimosa tree, as the light fades.

 

Exercise 3

 

            Answer the following questions within twenty-five words:

(1) What work do Jeremy and Mike do in the gorillas’ cages?

            Ans: Inside the gorilla's cages Mike and Jeremy sweep up the mess on the floor and scatter fresh white sawdust. They assure everything is all right.


(2) Describe the state of the frogs and snakes in the reptile house.

            Ans: In the reptile house the reptiles doze in a pleasant temperature of eighty degrees. Snakes regard the people calmly with lidless eyes and frogs make gulping sounds.


(3) What would one see and hear while lying in bed at night?

            Ans: While lying in bed at night one would see through the window the moon separating itself from the shadow of the trees and can hear the lions cough.

 

Grammar in use

 

Exercise 4

 

Classify the underlined adverbs according to their functions in the chart given below:

 

(a) I have already done the job.

(b) Bappa can go anywhere for his work.

(c) Puja often comes to my place.

(d) Nargis sings sweetly.

            Functions of adverbs

Ans:

Manner

Time

Place

Frequency

sweetly

already

anywhere

often

 

 

Exercise 5

 

Underline the clauses in the following sentences and state what kind of clauses they are:

 

(a) As he was not there, I spoke to his brother.

            Ans: As he was not there, I spoke to his brother.     Kind: Adverb Clause

(b) The house where Nazrul was born is in Churulia.

            Ans: The house where Nazrul was born is in Churulia.       Kind: Adjective Clause

(c) She said that she would return soon.

            Ans: She said that she would return soon.                 Kind: Noun Clause

(d) Have you read the book which you borrowed from me?

            Ans: Have you read the book which you borrowed from me?    Kind: Adjective Clause

 

Exercise 6

Identify the following sentences as simple, complex or compound sentence:

(i) He is too tired to walk alone.

            Ans: simple sentence

(ii) I have a friend who lives in Mumbai.

            Ans: complex sentence

(iii) Priyam wrote a letter but he got no reply.

            Ans: compound sentence

(iv) Being ill, I could not attend school.

            Ans: simple sentence

(v) She told me that she would enter a house which is believed to be haunted.

            Ans: complex sentence

(vi) The sun shines brightly and the flowers bloom.

            Ans: compound sentence

 

Exercise 7

Write a letter to the Headmaster/Headmistress of your school within 100 words seeking leave for three days to visit your ailing grandmother.

            Ans:

To,

The Headmaster,

PQR School

KNC Road, Barasat

Kolkata-700124

Sub: Leave of absence

Sir,

This is to inform you that I, Amal Das, a student of class IX of your school. My grandmother has fallen ill for last two days. She is facing some lung problems. Therefore my parents decided to visit her.

As I am very worried about her health I also want to visit her. So my request to you to allow me three days leave beginning from tomorrow.

I shall be highly obliged if you grant me the permission.

                                                                                                                                              Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Amal Das

Udayan Pally, Barasat  

Date:                                                                                                                                                                  


Exercise 8

Write a letter to your friend within 100 words narrating your experience of visiting a Wild Life sanctuary.

            Ans: [Answer will be published soon]