Chapter 2 – The Adventures of Toto Solutions
Question - 1 : - How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
Answer - 1 : -
Grandfather bought Toto from a tonga-driver for five rupees. The tonga-driver kept the monkey tied to a feeding-trough. It looked so out of place there that grandfather decided he would add it to his private zoo.
Question - 2 : - “Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?
Answer - 2 : -
Toto was pretty in its features. Its bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows. Its teeth, which were pearl white, were very often displayed in a smile that frightened the life out of elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. Its fingers were quick and wicked and its tail, while adding to its good looks, served as a third hand.
Question - 3 : - Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
Answer - 3 : -
Toto was transferred to a big cage in the servants’ quarters where a number of grandfather’s pets lived together. However, Toto would not allow other animals to sleep at night. Therefore, grandfather, who had to leave for Saharanpur to collect his pension, decided to take it along with him. A big black canvas kit-bag with some straw at the bottom was arranged for Toto to travel in. The canvas was too strong for Toto to bite and he could not get his hands out through the opening in the bag. When Toto poked its head out of the bag at Saharanpur station, the ticket collector was taken aback. He called Toto a dog and asked grandfather to pay for its travel. Even after repeated explanations and convincing by the grandfather, the ticket collector charged him for the monkey by calling it a dog.
There is nothing in the story to tell us why the ticket collector insisted on calling Toto a dog. You could discuss the second part of the question with your teacher.
Question - 4 : - How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Answer - 4 : -
A large bowl of warm water was given to Toto for his bath. He would cunningly test the temperature of water with his hand before stepping into the bowl. He would then gradually step into the bowl. Once comfortable, he would take the soap and rub it all over himself using his hands or his feet. When the water became cold, he would get out and run quickly to the kitchen fire in order to dry himself. Toto learnt to do so as he had seen the narrator do the same.
Once, a large kitchen kettle had been left on the fire to boil for tea. Toto removed the lid and found the water warm enough for a bath. He quickly got into the kettle with only his head popping out. When the water began to boil, Toto raised himself a little. However, finding it cold outside, he sat down again. He continued hopping up and down for sometime until grandmother took him out. By this time Toto had almost boiled himself alive.
Question - 5 : - Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
Answer - 5 : -
The author said that Toto was not the sort of pet they could keep for long because he was very mischievous and kept destroying things at home. He would tear things to pieces. He would make every effort to tear a hole in the narrator’s aunt’s dresses. On a particular instance, the narrator and his family saw Toto on the dining table stuffing itself with rice. In order to spite the grandmother, he threw the rice dish down from the tree and chattered with delight when it broke into pieces. The narrator and his grandfather realized that they were not too well-to-do and could not afford the loss of household items on a frequent basis. It is for this reason that grandfather sold Toto back to the tonga-driver that too only for three rupees.