Chapter -1. Monkey Trouble, English Literature, DAV Class VII, The Best Solutions.

Pre-reading Task

1. Whenever we think of an animal or a bird, a particular quality comes to our mind. Pick up appropriate qualities from the box given and write them opposite the names of the animals/birds.

dove :                        

dog    :            

fox      :            

parrot :                     

monkey :   

(talkative, cunning, mischievous, gentle, faithful)

Answer –  

2. Why do you think street entertainers prefer monkeys to other household pets like cats and dogs? Discuss with your friends.

Answer – Street entertainers often prefer monkeys because monkeys are smart, agile, and quick learners. They can easily mimic human actions, perform tricks, wear clothes, and do funny gestures that attract and amuse people. Unlike cats and dogs, monkeys are more flexible and can be trained to jump, dance, or ride bicycles, which makes their performances more entertaining and livelier. Monkeys also have a mischievous charm that draws a lot of attention in crowded places like streets and fairs.

Word Meaning

Summary (English):

The story is about a mischievous little monkey named Tutu, bought by the narrator’s grandfather from a street entertainer. Despite Grandmother’s initial objection, Tutu is brought home and becomes part of their unusual group of pets. Tutu’s antics cause much chaos and laughter.

When Aunt Ruby gets engaged to a schoolteacher named Rocky, they go to the bazaar to buy an engagement ring. Tutu secretly follows them and causes a big commotion by trying on a pearl necklace and running off with it. A wild chase through the bazaar follows, involving many people. Finally, Tutu throws the necklace into a canal, and after much effort, Rocky finds it.

Before Aunt Ruby’s wedding, Tutu “helps” Grandmother make the wedding cake by secretly mixing in odd ingredients like red chili sauce and bitter gourd seeds. Some guests fall sick after the wedding, but no one complains—most say the cake had a unique taste. Tutu’s mischievous nature brings both trouble and laughter to the family.

सारांश (Hindi):

यह कहानी एक शरारती छोटी बंदरिया टूटू की है, जिसे लेखक के दादा जी ने एक सड़क के कलाकार से सिर्फ दस रुपये में खरीदा था। दादी को पहले आपत्ति थी, लेकिन टूटू को घर ले आया गया और वह उनके विचित्र पालतू जानवरों का हिस्सा बन गई। टूटू की शरारतें पूरे घर को परेशान भी करती थीं और हँसी भी देती थीं।

जब रूबी बुआ की सगाई एक शिक्षक रॉकी से होती है, तो वे बाजार अँगूठी खरीदने जाते हैं। टूटू चुपचाप उनका पीछा करती है और एक मोती की माला पहनकर भाग जाती है। बाजार में एक बड़ा हंगामा मच जाता है। आखिरकार, टूटू माला नहर में फेंक देती है और काफी खोजबीन के बाद रॉकी उसे ढूँढ निकालते हैं।

शादी से कुछ दिन पहले, टूटू रसोई में दादी की केक बनाने में “मदद” करती है और उसमें लाल मिर्च की चटनी, करेले के बीज और अंडे के छिलके मिला देती है। शादी के बाद कुछ मेहमान कुछ दिन तक दिखाई नहीं देते, लेकिन कोई शिकायत नहीं करता—क्योंकि सबको केक का स्वाद “अलग और मजेदार” लगा।

Understanding the Story

A. Some statements based on the story are given below. Tick (T) for true statements and (F) for false statements. Rewrite the false statements after making corrections.

1. The street entertainer who sold Tutu had three other monkeys.

Answer – False

Corrected Statement: The street entertainer had three monkeys in total, and Tutu was the smallest and most mischievous one.

2. Rocky often gave chocolates and walnuts to the narrator.

Answer – False

Corrected Statement: Rocky often gave chocolates and cashew nuts to the narrator.

3. Rocky took Aunt Ruby to a jeweller’s shop for buying an engagement ring.

Answer – True

4. Tutu followed the narrator to the jeweller’s shop without being noticed.

Answer – True

5. Tutu put some herbs and spices in the wedding cake.

Answer – True

B. Answer the following questions in not more than 30 words each.

1. How was Grandmother convinced to keep Tutu as a pet?

Answer – Grandmother agreed because Grandfather said Tutu was a little girl monkey, and Grandmother always wanted a girl in the house, thinking girls were less troublesome.

2. Why did the narrator follow Aunt Ruby and Rocky secretly to the jeweller’s shop? What reason did Tutu have for following them?

Answer – The narrator followed secretly because Aunt Ruby didn’t want him around. Tutu, sensing something important, followed the narrator out of curiosity.

3. Why did the people in the bazaar chase Tutu?

Answer – People chased Tutu because she took a pearl necklace from the shop and ran away through the market, creating chaos and confusion.

4. What did Tutu do with the necklace? How was it restored to the shopkeeper?

Answer – Tutu threw the necklace into a canal. Rocky jumped into the canal and, after some time, found and returned it to the relieved shopkeeper.

5. Why do you think some guests were not seen for several days after the marriage?

Answer – Tutu secretly added strange ingredients like red chili sauce and bitter gourd seeds into the wedding cake, possibly causing the guests to fall ill.

C. The sentences below give an account of the menace that Tutu created in the bazaar, but the sentences are jumbled. Rearrange them by writing appropriate serial number in the box provided against each sentence. The opening sentence is given.

Tutu followed Aunt Ruby and Rocky secretly to the jeweller’s shop.

(a) Rocky, the jeweller and several people in the market followed her.

(b) Tutu leapt on the back of a scooterist.

(c) She slipped into the shop without being noticed.

(d) Tutu rushed out into the market.

(e) Tutu took the road leading to the narrator’s house.

(f) She then landed on a donkey which panicked and rushed down the road.

(g) She threw the necklace into a canal.

(h) Aunt Ruby and the jeweller saw her and tried to grab the necklace.

(i) Rocky dived into the canal, traced the necklace and returned it to the shopkeeper.

(j) She took a pearl necklace and put it round her neck.

HOTS

Some animals have a sharp mind. They amaze us by their actions. Do you think they are able to think in the right direction? Why/Why not?

Answer – Yes, many animals can think in the right direction. They use their instincts, memory, and observation to solve problems. Monkeys, like Tutu, are highly intelligent and can mimic humans and make decisions based on situations.

Life Skills

Do you like Tutu? If given a chance, would you like to keep her as a pet?

Answer – I like Tutu for her playful and intelligent nature, but I wouldn’t keep her as a pet. She’s too mischievous and causes a lot of trouble, which would be hard to manage at home.

Values

The narrator decided to secretly follow Aunt Ruby and her fiance Rocky to the market. Is he justified in doing that?

Answer – The narrator’s action was not entirely justified. Even though he was curious and felt left out, he should have respected Aunt Ruby’s wish for privacy. But being a child, his curiosity is understandable.

Writing Skills

Tutu took a pearl necklace from a jeweller’s shop and created a huge mess in the market before finally throwing it into a canal. The jeweller felt quite tense about the whole episode. Write the jeweller’s diary entry describing how he felt at Tutu’s mischief.

Answer –

Date: 00.00.0000
Dear Diary,

Today was the most chaotic day of my life! A little monkey entered my shop and tried on a pearl necklace as if she were my customer. Before we could react, she ran off with it into the busy bazaar. What followed was a mad chase – people running, scooters crashing, donkeys panicking – total madness! Just when I thought I’d lost the necklace forever, a brave young man named Rocky found it in the canal. I was so relieved and grateful. But I’ll never forget the day a monkey almost looted my shop!

– The Jeweller

Additional Questions and Answers – 01

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Why did Grandfather buy Tutu?
   a) To train her for a circus
   b) To free her from captivity
   c) Because she was the smartest monkey
   d) To gift her to Aunt Ruby
   Answer: b) To free her from captivity
2. How much did Grandfather pay for Tutu?
   a) Five rupees
   b) Ten rupees
   c) Twenty rupees
   d) Fifteen rupees
   Answer: b) Ten rupees
3. What scared Aunt Ruby the most?
   a) Tutu’s sharp claws
   b) Tutu’s grin showing her teeth
   c) Tutu’s jumping habits
   d) Tutu’s loud screeching
   Answer: b) Tutu’s grin showing her teeth
4. What did Tutu steal from the jewellery shop?
   a) A gold ring
   b) A silver bracelet
   c) A pearl necklace
   d) A diamond earring
   Answer: c) A pearl necklace
5. How did the chase in the market finally end?
   a) Tutu was caught and tied up
   b) She climbed a tree and escaped
   c) She threw the necklace in a canal
   d) She gave the necklace back
   Answer: c) She threw the necklace in a canal
6. What unusual items did Tutu add to the wedding cake?
   a) Salt and sugar
   b) Red chilli sauce and egg-shells
   c) Butter and garlic
   d) Chocolate and mango
   Answer: b) Red chilli sauce and egg-shells

Short Question and Answer (30 words or fewer)

1. Why did Grandfather feel pity for Tutu?
   Tutu looked miserable in chains, and Grandfather felt she deserved freedom and a better home.
2. How did Grandmother react when Tutu was brought home?
   She objected at first but agreed when told Tutu was a ‘girl monkey.’
3. What made the narrator approve of Rocky?
   Rocky was kind, brought chocolates, taught songs, and made Aunt Ruby happy.
4. Why did the market scene become chaotic?
   Tutu caused a commotion by stealing a necklace, jumping on people and animals, and escaping wildly.
5. What shows that Tutu was intelligent?
   She wore a necklace, dodged people smartly, and removed it before getting caught.

Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion)

1.

Assertion (A): Tutu was the most mischievous of all Grandfather’s pets.
Reason (R): She quietly followed the narrator and created chaos in the market.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true, but R is false.
d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

2.

Assertion (A): The wedding cake had an unusual flavor.
Reason (R): Tutu secretly added delicious ingredients.
a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true, but R is false.
d) A is false, but R is true.
Answer: c) A is true, but R is false. (Tutu added strange and inedible items.)

Long Questions and Answers (50–60 words)

1. Describe how Tutu created a scene in the market and what happened to the necklace.
   Tutu secretly followed the narrator to the jewellery shop, tried on a pearl necklace, and escaped. She jumped on a scooter, then a donkey, creating chaos. Finally, she threw the necklace into a canal. After a wild chase, Rocky found it and returned it to the jeweller, calming everyone.
2. How did Grandfather’s love for unusual pets affect the household?
   Grandfather’s affection for odd pets like tortoises, mice, and monkeys brought both joy and trouble. While the narrator loved the pets, Grandmother was often irritated. Tutu’s presence especially caused chaos, from frightening relatives to ruining the wedding cake, showing that such affection came with its own set of challenges.
3. Why did Grandmother finally agree to let Tutu stay in the house? Was her belief about girl monkeys correct?
   Grandmother agreed because Grandfather claimed Tutu was a little girl monkey, and she believed girls were less troublesome. However, this belief proved wrong. Tutu turned out to be full of mischief, showing that behaviour isn’t based on gender—even among monkeys!
4. Describe how Tutu participated in the wedding preparations.
   Tutu “helped” Grandmother in the kitchen by secretly adding strange items to the wedding cake, such as bitter gourd seeds and egg-shells. Though uninvited, she contributed in her own mischievous way. Her actions caused some guests to fall ill, but no one dared complain about the unusual cake flavour.

Additional Questions and Answers – 02

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Why did Grandfather decide to buy Tutu?
   a) He wanted a pet for Grandmother.
   b) Tutu looked miserable with the street entertainer.
   c) He needed a monkey to help with chores.
   d) Tutu was the largest of the three monkeys.
   Answer: b) Tutu looked miserable with the street entertainer.
2. What was Grandmother’s initial reaction to having Tutu in the house?
   a) She was excited to have a girl monkey.
   b) She objected because there were enough pets already.
   c) She wanted Tutu to replace the tortoise.
   d) She thought Tutu would be less troublesome than the boy.
   Answer: b) She objected because there were enough pets already.
3. What caused Aunt Ruby to be upset in the jewellery shop?
   a) The narrator was following her.
   b) Tutu tried on a pearl necklace.
   c) Rocky didn’t like the rings.
   d) The shopkeeper was rude.
   Answer: b) Tutu tried on a pearl necklace.
4. How did Tutu try to escape in the bazaar?
   a) She climbed a tree.
   b) She leapt onto a scooter and a donkey.
   c) She hid in a fruit stall.
   d) She ran into a shop.
   Answer: b) She leapt onto a scooter and a donkey.
5. What did Tutu add to the wedding cake?
   a) Sugar syrup and vanilla.
   b) Red chilli sauce, bitter gourd seeds, and eggshells.
   c) Chocolate and nuts.
   d) Flour and butter.
   Answer: b) Red chilli sauce, bitter gourd seeds, and eggshells.
6. Who finally found the necklace in the canal?
   a) The narrator.
   b) The jeweller.
   c) Rocky.
   d) A bystander.
   Answer: c) Rocky.
7. Why did the children join the chase in the bazaar?
   a) They wanted to catch Tutu for a reward.
   b) They thought it was more fun than attending school.
   c) They were helping Aunt Ruby.
   d) They were scared of Tutu.
   Answer: b) They thought it was more fun than attending school.
8. What was the reaction of the guests to the wedding cake?
   a) They complained about the taste.
   b) They thought it had an interesting flavour.
   c) They refused to eat it.
   d) They praised Grandmother’s cooking.
   Answer: b) They thought it had an interesting flavour.

Short Questions and Answers

1. Who bought Tutu, and for how much?
   Answer: Grandfather bought Tutu for ten rupees.
2. Why was Tutu tied up most of the time by the street entertainer?
   Answer: Tutu was very mischievous.
3. What pets did Grandfather already have in the house?
   Answer: A goat, several white mice, and a small tortoise.
4. What was Aunt Ruby’s reaction to seeing Tutu in the jewellery shop?
   Answer: She was upset and blamed the narrator for bringing Tutu.
5. What did Tutu do with the necklace in the canal?
   Answer: She flung it into the canal to get rid of it.
6. What did Rocky give to the narrator when he visited?
   Answer: Chocolates and cashewnuts.
7. What caused the donkey to panic in the bazaar?
   Answer: Tutu landed on its back.
8. What was the narrator’s role in the chase for Tutu?
   Answer: The narrator ran after Tutu, shouting for her to stop.
9. What was the outcome of the chase in the canal?
   Answer: Rocky found the necklace.
10. What unusual ingredients did Tutu add to the wedding cake?
    Answer: Red chilli sauce, bitter gourd seeds, and eggshells.

Competency-Based Questions (Reasoning and Assertion)

1. Assertion (A): Tutu’s mischievous nature caused chaos in the bazaar.
   Reason (R): Tutu stole a necklace and led a chase through the market.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
   Explanation: Tutu’s act of stealing the necklace and running through the bazaar, jumping on a scooter and a donkey, caused a chaotic chase involving the jeweller, Rocky, the narrator, and bystanders, directly resulting from her mischievous behavior.
2. Assertion (A): Grandmother initially opposed having Tutu in the house.
   Reason (R): She believed the narrator was troublesome enough.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
   Explanation: Grandmother objected to Tutu because she felt the narrator’s mischievousness was already enough to handle, as stated when she said one boy was all she could take.
3. Assertion (A): The wedding cake had an unusual taste.
   Reason (R): Tutu added red chilli sauce, bitter gourd seeds, and eggshells to it.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
   Explanation: The unusual ingredients added by Tutu, such as red chilli sauce and eggshells, caused the wedding cake to have an interesting and unusual flavor, as noted by the guests.
4. Assertion (A): The narrator approved of Rocky as Aunt Ruby’s fiancé.
   Reason (R): Rocky was kind and gave the narrator chocolates and cashewnuts.
   Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
   Explanation: The narrator liked Rocky because he was good-natured, brought gifts like chocolates and cashewnuts, and taught marching songs, which led to the narrator’s approval of Aunt Ruby’s choice.

Long Questions and Answers (50-60 words)

1. Describe how Tutu’s actions in the bazaar led to a chaotic chase.
   Answer: Tutu’s mischief began when she stole a pearl necklace from a jewellery shop. She dodged through the crowded bazaar, leaping onto a scooter, which crashed into a fruit stall, and then onto a donkey, causing it to panic. This sparked a chase involving the jeweller, Rocky, the narrator, and bystanders, creating chaos as everyone followed Tutu’s unpredictable path.
2. Why did Grandfather decide to bring Tutu home, and how did Grandmother react?
   Answer: Grandfather bought Tutu for ten rupees because she looked miserable tied up by the street entertainer, and he loved unusual pets. Grandmother initially objected, citing the existing pets and the narrator’s troublesome nature. However, she relented when Grandfather revealed Tutu was a female monkey, hoping a girl would be less troublesome, though Tutu proved otherwise.
3. How did Tutu’s involvement affect the wedding cake preparation?
   Answer: Tutu mischievously added red chilli sauce, bitter gourd seeds, and eggshells to the wedding cake while helping Grandmother in the kitchen. These unusual ingredients gave the cake an interesting flavor, unnoticed by Grandmother. Although some guests were unwell afterward, no one criticized the cake, and its unique taste was generally accepted.
4. Explain the narrator’s role in the events at the jewellery shop and the chase.
   Answer: The narrator secretly followed Aunt Ruby and Rocky to the jewellery shop, unnoticed until he appeared by “accident.” Tutu, following him, stole a necklace, triggering a chase. The narrator joined the pursuit, shouting for Tutu to stop, and later dove into the canal with others to retrieve the necklace, actively participating in resolving the chaos.