Workbook solutions for the story ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ from the ‘Treasure Chest’ English book for ICSE Class 9 are available here. These provide answers to the questions in the Workbook published by Evergreen Publications.
Evergreen Workbook- Solutions, Question and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Select the option that lists the events in their correct order.
I. Bonku Babu’s kurta is torn.
II. Bonku Babu and his friends talked about space-ships and space-travel.
III. They were talking about ghosts.
IV. Bonku Babu says to his friends, “Suppose … suppose they came here ?”
(a) IV, I, II, III
(b) III, I, II, IV
(c) III, II, I, IV
(d) IV, III, I, II
Ans: (b) III, I, II, IV
2. Which of the following is NOT true about Bonku Babu’s friends ?
(a) They often made fun of Bonku Babu
(b) His friends often talked about ghosts
(c) Bonku Babu used to meet his friends at Sripati Majumdar’s house.
(d) Two of his friends were named Ramkanai, and Bhairav Chakravarty.
Ans: (b) His friends often talked about ghosts
3. Read the sentences given below and answer the question that follows :
Bhairav Chakravarty grinned and said, “Bravo! What a thing to say ! Where is a creature from another planet going to land?” The tone of the speaker here is:
(a) serious
(b) sympathetic
(c) mocking
(d) interrogative
Ans: (c) mocking
4. Select the option that gives true character traits of Bonku Babu.
I. simple
II. docile
III. aggressive
IV. arrogant
V. tolerant
VI. unfriendly
(a) I, VI, II
(b) I, II, V
(c) IV, III, VI
(d) I, II, IV
Ans: (b) I, II, V
5. Bonku Babu never thought of going against Sripati Majumdar because.
(a) Bonku Babu had a sincere love for him.
(b) Sripati Majumdar was the headmaster of Bonku Babu’s school.
(c) Bonku Babu had never disobeyed anyone
(d) He was afraid of Sripati Majumdar.
Ans: (d) He was afraid of Sripati Majumdar.
6. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statement (1) and statement (2).
- Bonku Babu was a timid fellow.
- He did not protest against his constant bullying by others
(a) 1 is independent of 2.
(b) 1 is a contradiction of 2.
(c) 1 is an example of 2.
(d) 1 is the cause for 2.
Ans: (d) 1 is the cause for 2.
7. “Consider his looks, not to mention his brains…. yes, Bunkum would be the ideal specimen !”
Which of the following words best describes the speaker’s tone ?
(a) frustrated
(b) satirical
(c) ironic
(d) irritated
Ans: (c) ironic
8. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
- One day Bonku Babu had a meeting with an Alien Ang.
- Bonku Babu continued to be bullied by one and all because he never retaliated.
- Bonku Babu went to Sripati Babu’s house and surprised everyone with his bold and sarcastic comments.
- Ang advised him to stand up against any injustice.
(a) 2, 3, 4, 1
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(c) 2, 1, 4, 3
(d) 2, 1, 3, 4
Ans: (c) 2, 1, 4, 3
9. Ang’s words of advice made Bonku Babu feel ……. .
- ambitious
- bold
- confident
- frustrated
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
Ans: (d) 2 and 3
10. ‘In the same instant, the cup fell from Ramkanai’s hand, shattering to pieces, and splattering hot tea on most of the others.
Which of the following statements, shows the reason for what Ramkanai did ?
(a) Ramkanai forgot what he was doing.
(b) He lost his senses.
(c) He was so shocked by Bonku Babu’s behaviour that he lost self-control.
(d) He had a fit of epilepsy.
Ans: (c) He was so shocked by Bonku Babu’s behaviour that he lost self-control.
11. Bonku Babu had been teaching geography and Bengali at a village school for the last ……………….. .
(a) ten years
(b) two years
(c) twenty years
(d) twenty two years
Ans: (d) twenty two years
12. Bonku enjoyed telling his students stories about ……………….. .
(a) life in Africa
(b) discovery of the North Pole
(c) the fish in Brazil that ate human flesh
(d) all of the above
Ans: (d) all of the above
13. As Bonku was passing under a tamarind tree he was attacked by ……………….. .
(a) some dacoits
(b) a ghost
(c) men of Sripati Majumdar
(d) a ‘spook’
Ans: (d) a ‘spook’
14. The moving point of light seen by the residents of Kankurgachhi three months ago turned out to be ……………….. .
(a) a shooting star
(b) a Russain satellite called Khotka
(c) a Chinese satellite
(d) an American spaceship
Ans: (b) a Russain satellite called Khotka
15. Bonku Babu was the first person to spot the strange light but another got the credit for it. Who was that person ?
(a) Sripati Majumdar
(b) Chandi Babu
(c) Nidhu Babu
(d) Ramkanai
Ans: (c) Nidhu Babu
16. According to Sripati Babu if someone from a different planet came to earth, he would land in ……………….. .
(a) India
(b) some eastern country
(c) USA
(d) some western country
Ans: (d) some western country
17. The object that Bonku saw behind the pond looked like a big ……………….. .
(a) satellite
(b) glass bowl turned upside down
(c) mountain
(d) a tomb
Ans: (b) glass bowl turned upside down
18. The eyes of the alien were ……………….. .
(a) round and bright yellow
(b) shining red
(c) small and lustreless
(d) all of the above
Ans: (a) round and bright yellow
19. The alien had landed on the Earth by mistake. Where was he supposed to go ?
(a) Mars
(b) Jupiter
(c) Venus
(d) Pluto
Ans: (d) Pluto
20. The Alien named Ang had come down to earth from the planet ……………….. .
(a) Saturn
(b) Neptune
(c) Craneus
(d) Uranus
Ans: (c) Craneus
21. The small object, which looked like a pebble, the object which Ang showed to Bonku could ……………….. .
(a) kill the enemy
(b) make Ang a millionaire
(c) make an enemy powerless
(d) make Bonku very powerful
Ans: (c) make an enemy powerless
| Also check |
| Bonku Babu’s Friend: Hindi Translation Bonku Babu’s Friend Notes Bonku Babu’s Friend: Extract-Based Questions Bonku Babu’s Friend: Morning Star Workbook Solutions |
Comprehension Passages
PASSAGE-1
It was not as if there was never any reason for him to lose his temper. For the last twenty-two years, Bonku Babu had taught Geography and Bengali at the Kankurgachhi Village Primary School. Every year, a new batch of students replaced the old one, but old or new, the tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu continued among all the students. Some drew his cartoon on the blackboard; others put glue on his chair; or, on the night of Kali Puja, they lit a chasing rocket and set it off right behind him.
Bonku Babu did not get upset by any of this. Only sometimes, he cleared his throat and said, “Shame on you, boys!”
1. What encouraged the students to tease Bonku Babu?
Ans: The students teased Bonku Babu because he was very quiet and never got angry. He never punished them, so they felt free to make fun of him.
2. Which tradition continued among the students ?
Ans: The tradition of teasing Bonku Babu continued among all students, whether they were old students or new ones.
3. The students teased Bonku Babu in different ways. What were they ?
Ans: They drew his cartoon on the blackboard, put glue on his chair, and lit a chasing rocket behind him on the night of Kali Puja.
4. How did Bonku Babu sometimes lightly condemn the students ?
Ans: Sometimes Bonku Babu just cleared his throat and said, “Shame on you, boys!”
5. What is unusual about Bonku Babu ?
Ans: The unusual thing about Bonku Babu was that he never got angry, even when people teased or troubled him.
PASSAGE-2
Only the other day — less than two months ago — they were talking about ghosts. Usually, Bonku Babu kept his mouth shut. That day, for some unknown reason, he opened it and declared that he was not afraid of ghosts, that was all ! But it was enough to offer a golden opportunity to the others. On his way back home later that night, Bonku Babu was attacked by a ‘spook’. As he was passing under a tamarind tree, a tall, thin figure leapt down and landed on his back. As it happened this apparition had smeared black ink all over itself, possibly at the suggestion of someone at the meeting.
1. What made Bonku Babu shut his mouth ?
Ans: Bonku Babu usually kept his mouth shut because people at the meetings always made fun of him, and he did not want to argue or be insulted.
2. What offered a golden opportunity and to whom? What did they plan ?
Ans: Bonku Babu saying he was not afraid of ghosts gave the others a golden opportunity. They planned a prank to scare him by pretending to be a ghost.
3. Who do you think was the lean, thin figure that landed on Bonku’s back? Why is he called ‘a spook’?
Ans: The lean, thin figure was one of the men from the meeting who had dressed up like a ghost. He is called a ‘spook’ because he was acting like a ghost to frighten Bonku Babu.
4. Why could Bonku Babu not recognise the apparition ?
Ans: Bonku Babu could not recognise the apparition because it had smeared black ink all over itself, and it was dark at night.
5. How did this encounter with the ghost affect Bonku Babu later in the story?
Ans: The prank hurt Bonku Babu. His neck ached for three days, and his new kurta was torn and stained. It made him feel very bad and showed how badly others treated him.
PASSAGE-3
Even, so, Bonku Babu had to come to these meetings. If he didn’t, what would Sripati Babu think? Not only was he a very important man in the school committee and in the village, but he couldn’t do without Bonku Babu. who could provide amusement to all. On one particular day, the topic of conversation was space – in other words, they were talking about spaceships and space travel.
1. Why was the presence of Bonku Babu important in the meetings at Sripati’s house?
Ans. Bonku Babu’s presence was important because Sripati Babu and others used him as a source of fun and jokes. He was the one they laughed at for amusement.
2. Bonku came even though he didn’t want to come. Why ?
Ans. Bonku came even though he didn’t want to because he was worried about what Sripati Babu would think if he stopped coming.
3. Why was Bonku so afraid of Sripati Majumdar ?
Ans. Bonku was afraid of Sripati Majumdar because Sripati was an important man in the school committee and the village. Bonku did not want to upset him.
4. Sometimes Bonku tried to keep away from this group. Why ?
Ans. Bonku sometimes tried to keep away because the men always teased him and insulted him, just like the students did.
5. One day which topic came up for conversation? What were the views of most of the persons?
Ans. One day they started talking about space, spaceships, and space travel. Most of the people did not know much but still gave silly opinions, some saying satellites and rockets were useless for them.
PASSAGE-4
Everyone agreed, with the sole exception of Bonku Babu. Chandi Babu decided to take things a bit further. He nudged Nidhu Babu silently, pointed at Bonku Babu and spoke innocently: “Why, I think Bonku is quite right. Isn’t it natural that aliens should want to come to a place where there’s a man like our Bonkubihari ? If they wanted to take away a human specimen, could they find anything better?”
“No, I don’t think so!” Nidhu Babu joined in.
“Consider his looks, not to mention his brains … yes, Bunkum would be the ideal specimen!”
“Right. Suitable for keeping in a museum or a zoo,” Ramkanai chipped in.
1. What had Sripati Babu said to which almost all agreed ?
Ans. Sripati Babu had said that if any creature from another planet came to Earth, they would not come to this small, unknown place. He believed they would go to a western country where the “sahibs” lived. Almost everyone agreed with this idea except Bonku Babu.
2. Who nudged Nidhu Babu? Why ?
Ans. Chandi Babu nudged Nidhu Babu to secretly get his attention. He wanted Nidhu Babu to notice that Bonku Babu was being serious and to join him in making fun of Bonku Babu.
3. When Chandi Babu says “I think Bonku is quite right’, does he mean it ? In which tone does he speak?
Ans. When Chandi Babu said, “I think Bonku is quite right,” he did not really mean it. He spoke in a sarcastic and teasing tone. He wanted to insult Bonku Babu by pretending that aliens would choose Bonku as the best example of a human being to take away.
4. For what would Bonku Babu be suitable according to Ram Kanai?
Ans. Ramkanai said that Bonku Babu would be suitable for keeping in a museum or a zoo as a human specimen. By saying this, he indirectly meant that Bonku Babu looked so strange and simple that aliens might find him the perfect example of a human to take away and display.
5. What impression do you form of the speakers participating in the discussion?
Ans. The speakers, like Chandi Babu, Nidhu Babu, and Ramkanai, come across as mean, rude, and childish. Instead of respecting Bonku Babu, they insult him and take pleasure in humiliating him. Their behaviour shows that they lacked kindness and maturity.
PASSAGE-5
Bonku Babu did not reply, but wondered silently: if anyone were to actually look for a specimen, weren’t the others just as suitable? Look at Sripati Babu. His chin was so much like a camel’s. And that Bhairav Chakravarty, his eyes were like the eyes of a tortoise. Nidhu Babu looked like a rat, Ramkanai like a goat, and Chandi Babu like a flittermouse. If a zoo really had to be filled up…!
Tears sprang to his eyes. Bonku Babu had come to the meeting hoping, for once, to enjoy himself. That was clearly not to be. He could not stay here any longer. He got up to his feet.
1. Did Bonku Babu reply to the derogatory remarks of the regulars? Why ?
Ans. No, Bonku Babu did not reply to the rude and insulting remarks made by the others. He was a quiet and humble man who never argued or fought back. Instead of speaking, he only wondered in his mind that the others looked funny too and could also be taken as specimens by aliens.
2. What did Bonku think about Bhairav Chakravarty ?
Ans. Bonku thought that Bhairav Chakravarty’s eyes looked like the eyes of a tortoise. Just as he compared others to animals, he also noticed Bhairav’s strange appearance.
3. According to Bonku how could a zoo be filled up ?
Ans. According to Bonku, if a zoo had to be filled up, it could be done easily by putting these men in it. He felt that Sripati looked like a camel, Bhairav like a tortoise, Nidhu like a rat, Ramkanai like a goat, and Chandi like a flittermouse (bat).
4. Why had Bonku come to the meeting ?
Ans. Bonku had come to the meeting with the hope of enjoying himself for once. He wanted to spend some pleasant time with others, but instead, they insulted and teased him as always.
5. In what state of mind Bonku Babu stood up to leave? Why ?
Ans. Bonku stood up to leave in a very sad and hurt state of mind. Tears came to his eyes because he realised that he would never get respect or kindness from these people, even when he wished to enjoy their company.
PASSAGE-6
Puzzled, Bonku Babu walked another twenty yards, and then he suddenly saw the light. At first, he thought that a fire had broken out. Bang in the middle of the bamboo grove, in the clearing near a small pond, quite a large area was glowing pink. A dull light shone on every branch and every leaf. Down below, the ground behind the pond was lit by a much stronger pink light. But it was not a fire, for it was still.
Bonku Babu kept moving.
1. Which light is referred to in the second line ?
Ans. The light referred to is the pink glow coming from the alien spaceship that had landed in the bamboo grove.
2. Why did Bonku think that a fire had broken out ?
Ans. Bonku thought a fire had broken out because he suddenly saw a large glowing area. Usually, such brightness at night would mean there was a fire.
3. How did the ground behind the pond look ?
Ans. The ground behind the pond was shining with a much stronger pink light. The glow made the whole area look strange and bright.
4. What could be seen in the middle of the bamboo grove? How did it impact every branch and every leaf?
Ans. In the middle of the bamboo grove, there was a clearing near a small pond that was glowing pink. The dull light from the spaceship spread on every branch and every leaf, making them shine.
5. What effect did the noise have on Bonku Babu? Why did he move forward?
Ans. The strange humming noise and the pink light made Bonku Babu puzzled and curious. Even though he was scared and shocked, his curiosity became stronger, and that is why he kept moving forward to see what it was.
PASSAGE-7
Through that door emerged a head—like a plain, smooth ball—and then the body of a weird creature. Its arms and legs were amazingly thin. With the exception of its head, its whole body was covered by a shiny, pink outfit. Instead of ears, it had tiny holes on each side of its head. On the face were two holes where there should have been a nose, and another gaping hole instead of a mouth. There was no sign of hair anywhere. Its eyes were round and bright yellow. They appeared to be glowing in the dark.
1. Who came out of the strange object?
Ans. The alien named Ang came out of the strange object, which was actually a spaceship.
2. How did that creature look ?
Ans. The creature had a plain, round head like a smooth ball. Its arms and legs were very thin, and its body, except the head, was covered with a shiny pink outfit. It had glowing yellow eyes and no hair anywhere.
3. What did it have instead of ears ?
Ans. Instead of ears, the creature had tiny holes on each side of its head.
4. What tells you that the ‘weird creature’ Bonku saw could not be a human ?
Ans. The creature could not be a human because it had a ball-shaped head, no hair, glowing yellow eyes, and holes instead of ears and a nose. Its whole body looked very different from a human body.
5. What did the strange creature do after coming out of that object ?
Ans. After coming out of the spaceship, the creature slowly walked towards Bonku Babu and stopped just a few feet away, staring at him steadily.
PASSAGE-8
Bonku Babu did not know what to say. He was feeling quite uncomfortable, for the creature had reached out and was examining Bonku Babu’s arms and legs with its long, bony fingers. When it finished, it introduced itself. “I am Ang, from the planet Craneus. A far superior being than man.
“What! This creature, barely four feet tall, with such thin limbs and weird face, was superior to man? Bonku Babu nearly burst out laughing. Ang read his mind immediately. “There’s no need to be so sceptical. I can prove it. How many languages do you know?”
Bonku Babu scratched his head. “Bengali, English and… er… Hindi… a little Hindi… I mean…”
1. What made Bonku Babu feel uncomfortable ?
Ans. Bonku Babu felt uncomfortable because the strange creature was touching and examining his arms and legs with its long, bony fingers.
2. What did the creature tell Bonku about himself ?
Ans. The creature told Bonku Babu that his name was Ang, he came from the planet Craneus, and that he was a far superior being compared to humans.
3. What surprised Bonku when he listened to the alien ?
Ans. Bonku was surprised because Ang was very small, with thin limbs and a strange face, yet claimed to be superior to man. This made Bonku almost laugh.
4. How did the strange creature introduce himself to Bonku Babu ?
Ans. The creature introduced himself politely, saying, “I am Ang, from the planet Craneus. A far superior being than man.”
5. What tells you about Ang’s superiority to ordinary human beings ?
Ans. Ang showed his superiority by reading Bonku Babu’s mind and by saying that he could prove how advanced he was. He later revealed that he knew 14,000 languages and had visited many planets, which no human could do.
| Also check |
| Bonku Babu’s Friend: Hindi Translation Bonku Babu’s Friend Notes Bonku Babu’s Friend: Extract-Based Questions Bonku Babu’s Friend: Morning Star Workbook Solutions |
Project Assignments
1. How did Bonku Babu’s students tease him and what used to be his reaction?
Answer:
Bonku Babu’s students teased him in many ways. They drew his cartoon on the blackboard, put glue on his chair, hid his umbrella or shoes, and even lit chasing rockets behind him on the night of Kali Puja.
Bonku Babu never got angry at these pranks. He only sometimes cleared his throat and softly said, “Shame on you, boys!” He tolerated everything because he was simple, kind, and afraid of losing his job if he ever created trouble.
2. Describe the happenings at the meeting in Sripati Majumdar’s house.
Answer:
Every weekend, Bonku Babu went to Sripati Majumdar’s house, where several men gathered for evening meetings. Sripati Babu was an important man in the village, and Bonku Babu always attended because he did not want to upset him.
At these meetings, the men often made fun of Bonku Babu. They insulted him, called him names like Bunkum, and forced him to sing or do silly things.
One evening, they discussed satellites, rockets, and aliens. Bonku Babu gently said, “Suppose someone from a different planet came here?” Instead of answering seriously, they mocked him more, saying he would be the perfect “specimen” for aliens to take away.
Hurt by their rude remarks, Bonku Babu left the meeting in tears. This incident showed how cruel and childish the men were and how little respect they had for him.
3. Narrate the incident in which Bonku Babu comes across Ang.
Answer:
While returning home at night after the meeting, Bonku Babu took his usual shortcut through Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove. The night was strangely silent, with no sound of crickets. Suddenly, he saw a large pink glow in the middle of the grove.
Curious, he walked closer and saw a strange object like a giant glass bowl covering the pond. Before he could react, he felt as if an electric current had passed through him and became unable to move.
A door opened in the object, and a small alien named Ang came out. Ang had a round, smooth head, thin arms and legs, and wore a shiny pink outfit. He greeted Bonku Babu, spoke in English, and introduced himself as a superior being from the planet Craneus.
Ang examined Bonku Babu’s arms and legs, read his mind, and showed him amazing sights like the North Pole, the aurora borealis, polar bears, walruses, and the deadly piranhas of Brazil through a magical tube.
Before leaving, Ang told Bonku Babu that he was too meek and mild, which is why he had made little progress in life. He advised him to always speak up against injustice and insult. Then Ang returned to his spaceship and flew away.
This meeting completely changed Bonku Babu’s life.
4. Give a description of Ang and the circumstances that make the setting of the story unusual.
Answer:
Description of Ang:
Ang was a strange alien from the planet Craneus. He was very small, about four feet tall, with a round, smooth head. His arms and legs were thin like sticks. Except for his head, his whole body was covered in a shiny pink outfit. He had no hair, no ears, and instead of a nose and mouth, he had small holes on his face. His eyes were round, bright yellow, and glowed in the dark.
Circumstances that made the setting unusual:
- Bonku Babu was walking alone at night through a silent bamboo grove, where even the crickets had stopped chirping.
- Suddenly, a large pink glow appeared in the clearing near a pond.
- There was a strange object like a glass bowl, which seemed to be alive as it moved up and down like breathing.
- Bonku Babu was paralysed by an invisible force and then heard a thin, flute-like voice speaking to him in English.
These strange events – the glowing spaceship, the alien’s appearance, and the magical tube showing distant places – made the setting mysterious, exciting, and unusual.
5. What kind of transformation happens to Bonku Babu ? How far do you agree that such a transformation is possible in life ?
Answer:
Bonku Babu was a meek, quiet man who never stood up for himself. Everyone teased him – his students and the men at Sripati Majumdar’s house. He never protested, even when he was insulted.
After meeting Ang, Bonku Babu realised that being silent and weak was wrong. Ang told him that he must always speak up against injustice and not tolerate insults. This advice gave Bonku Babu courage and self-confidence.
The next day, he shocked everyone by answering back boldly, scolding those who teased him, and refusing to attend their meetings again.
Yes, such a transformation is possible in life. Sometimes, one strong experience or powerful advice can change a person completely. When someone realises their own worth, they can become confident and stop allowing others to treat them badly.
6. “Those who do not speak out against injustice and maltreatment are bound to be exploited and have to suffer.” Discuss the statement in the light of the story ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’.
Answer:
The story Bonku Babu’s Friend shows how a quiet and meek person becomes an easy target for insult and bullying.
Bonku Babu never spoke up when his students teased him or when the men at Sripati Majumdar’s house mocked him. Because he stayed silent, everyone thought it was fine to make fun of him. They played pranks, called him “Bunkum,” and even lied to take credit for things he had done.
When Bonku Babu met Ang, the alien told him that staying quiet against injustice is wrong. Ang said that if someone hurts or insults you, you must protest.
After listening to Ang, Bonku Babu gained courage. The next day, he answered back to everyone, scolded those who teased him, and decided not to attend their meetings anymore.
The story teaches that if you remain silent against unfair treatment, people will keep exploiting you. Speaking up is necessary to get respect and stop injustice.
