NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English, Chapter 5: The snake and the mirror

Class 9 is the first stepping stone for a student in the competitive world. With the introduction of the CBSE Board Exam for class 10 a few years back, this has become an important gateway for a student. Based on the results of class 9th a student selects his future stream of Science, Commerce or Arts suiting his interest.

Takshila Learning is providing NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English as per the latest syllabus by CBSE. Class 9 is the building block for the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams, not only for your exams but also for your higher studies and career. English is the most essential subject and the knowledge in this field opens up wider career opportunities for the students.

Below you can find the NCERT solution for Class 9th English. You can get a Solution for the all-important question of Class 9 English, Chapter 5: The snake and the mirror

Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph

Question 1.
“ The sound was a familiar one.” What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?
Answer:
The doctor heard the sound of rats and the sound was a familiar one. He also heard the sound four times. The phrases are ‘Again I heard that sound from above’, ‘Again came that noise from above’, ‘Suddenly there came a dull thud as if a rubber tube has fallen’. The sounds stopped after the appearance of the snake.

Question 2.
What two “important” and “earth-shaking” decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?
Answer:
The doctor put up with the following two ‘important’ and ‘earth-shaking’ decisions:

(a) He would trim daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome and good.
(b) He would constantly keep that impressive smile on his face.

Question 3.
“I looked into the mirror and smiled,” says the doctor. A little later he says, “I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself.” What is the doctor’s opinion about himself when (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?
Answer:
The doctor felt that he had a nice and good smile when he first smiled. But when he smiled a little later, he laughed at his fortune. His life was in threat. His thinking got altered because of the snake. He was very close to dying.

This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous?

1. (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below).

Write short paragraphs on each of these to get your answer.

Question 1.

1. The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions)
2. The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)

Answer:

1. A doctor is a poor man and he does not have sufficient money. His home has no electricity. It is a tiny rented room that has multiple rats in it. He has about sixty rupees in his case. Along with some shirts and dhotis, he also acquires one solitary black coat.
2. He wants to be a handsome and wonderful person. So he decides to shave every day and grow a thin moustache. He also wants to acquire prosperity and wealth.

Question 2.

1. The person he wants to marry
2. The person he actually marries

Answer:

1. He aspires to marry a woman doctor who has lots of money and good medical practice. He wants to have a fat spouse so that she cannot run after him and catch him when he would make an error.
2. The someone he actually marries is a thin reedy individual with the gift of a sprinter.

Question 3.

1. His thoughts when he looks into the mirror
2. His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm

Answer:

1. He thinks that he should look smart and intelligent. So he decides to shave every day and keep his smile. He is happy and cheerful when he looks into the mirror.
2. When the snake coiled around his left arm above the elbow, he kept sitting there holding his breath and became motionless. He was scared of the snake