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Bonku Babu’s Friend: ICSE Class 9 English (Treasure Chest) notes
Get notes, summary, questions and answers (competency based), workbook answers (Evergreen and Morning Star), MCQs, extras, and pdf of the story Bonku Babu’s Friend by Satyajit Ray which is part of ICSE Class 9 English (Treasure Chest) syllabus. However, the notes should only be treated for references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
The story revolves around a character named Bonkubihari Datta, a humble and meek geography and Bengali teacher at the Kankurgachhi Village Primary School. One night, while walking home, Bonku Babu encounters a strange, glowing object in the middle of Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove. The object, resembling an upside-down glass bowl, emits a pink light and a humming sound. As he approaches, he is immobilized by an unseen force.
Suddenly, a creature emerges from the object. This creature, called Ang, is from the planet Craneus. Ang has a smooth, bald head, thin limbs, and a body covered in a shiny, pink outfit. His eyes are round and bright yellow, and his face has holes instead of a nose and mouth. Ang communicates with Bonku Babu, first in English and then in Bengali.
Ang shows Bonku Babu a small object that can immobilize anyone without causing physical harm. He also has a small tube that allows Bonku Babu to see any place he wishes. When asked, Bonku Babu admits he would like to see the North Pole, a place he has never visited due to his residence in a warm country.
Ang tells Bonku Babu that humans are an inferior species, but Bonku Babu is a good man. However, he criticizes Bonku Babu’s meekness, advising him to stand up against injustice and protest when insulted or hurt without provocation. After this encounter, Ang quickly departs in his spaceship.
Bonku Babu, still in awe of the encounter, returns home. He later attends a meeting where he boldly speaks out against the people present, criticizing their behaviour and announcing his encounter with Ang. This newfound assertiveness is a result of his interaction with Ang. The story ends with Bonku Babu leaving the meeting with a bounce in his step, his head held high, and a sense of uniqueness, having had an experience that no one else in the world has had.
Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
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
Answer: (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.
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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.
Answer: (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.
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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.
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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’
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (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
Answer: (d) Pluto
20. The Alien named Ang had come down to earth from the planet ……………….. .
(a) Saturn
(b) Neptune
(c) Craneus
(d) Uranus
Answer: (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
Answer: (c) make an enemy powerless
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?
Answer: Bonku Babu’s calm demeanor and his failure to get upset by their teasing encouraged the students. He would only sometimes clear his throat and mildly say, “Shame on you, boys!”
2. Which tradition continued among the students ?
Answer: The tradition of teasing poor Bonku Babu continued among all the students, whether they were old or new.
3. The students teased Bonku Babu in different ways. What were they ?
Answer: The students teased Bonku Babu in different ways: some drew his cartoon on the blackboard, others put glue on his chair, and on the night of Kali Puja, they would light a chasing rocket and set it off right behind him.
4. How did Bonku Babu sometimes lightly condemn the students ?
Answer: Bonku Babu sometimes lightly condemned the students by clearing his throat and saying, “Shame on you, boys!”
5. What is unusual about Bonku Babu ?
Answer: What was unusual about Bonku Babu was that no one had ever seen him get cross, and it was difficult to imagine what he might say or do if he did get angry. Despite the students’ pranks, he did not get upset.
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 ?
Answer: Usually, Bonku Babu kept his mouth shut during the discussions at Sripati Majumdar’s house, particularly when topics like ghosts were being discussed.
2. What offered a golden opportunity and to whom? What did they plan ?
Answer: Bonku Babu declaring that he was not afraid of ghosts offered a golden opportunity to the others at the meeting. They planned to prank him, and so, on his way back home later that night, as he was passing under a tamarind tree, a ‘spook’ in the form of a tall, thin figure, which had smeared black ink all over itself possibly at the suggestion of someone at the meeting, leapt down and landed on his back.
3. Who do you think was the lean, thin figure that landed on Bonku’s back? Why is he called ‘a spook’?
Answer: I think the lean, thin figure that landed on Bonku’s back was one of the men from Sripati Majumdar’s meeting, who was playing a prank. He is called ‘a spook’ because he was disguised as a ghost or an apparition to frighten Bonku Babu.
4. Why could Bonku Babu not recognise the apparition ?
Answer: Bonku Babu could not recognise the apparition because it was dark, and the figure had smeared black ink all over itself, likely to conceal its identity.
5. How did this encounter with the ghost affect Bonku Babu later in the story?
Answer: This encounter with the ‘ghost’ did not frighten Bonku Babu, but he was injured. His neck ached for three days, and his new kurta was torn and had black stains all over. This incident, a “joke” played on him, added to the series of humiliations he endured, which eventually contributed to his change later in the story after his encounter with Ang.
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?
Answer: The presence of Bonku Babu was important in the meetings at Sripati’s house because, according to Sripati Babu, he could provide amusement to all, serving as the butt of ridicule.
2. Bonku came even though he didn’t want to come. Why ?
Answer: Bonku Babu came to the meetings even though he didn’t want to because he was concerned about what Sripati Babu would think if he didn’t. Sripati Babu was a very important man in the school committee and in the village, and Bonku Babu was afraid that Sripati, being an influential person, could harm him, possibly affecting his job.
3. Why was Bonku so afraid of Sripati Majumdar ?
Answer: Bonku Babu was afraid of Sripati Majumdar because Sripati was a very important and influential man in the school committee and in the village, and Bonku Babu feared that Sripati could harm him.
4. Sometimes Bonku tried to keep away from this group. Why ?
Answer: Sometimes Bonku Babu tried to keep away from this group because while he could put up with the pranks played by his students, it became too much for him to bear when grown-ups, even middle-aged men, started playing the fool with him and poked fun at him at Sripati Babu’s gatherings, sometimes bringing his endurance almost to breaking point. On a number of occasions, he had come back thinking, “Enough, never again!”
5. One day which topic came up for conversation? What were the views of most of the persons?
Answer: One day, the topic of conversation that came up was space, specifically spaceships and space-travel. Most of the persons present, like Chandi Babu, were dismissive, calling the excitement about satellites “all humbug.” Nidhu Babu also downplayed satellites, comparing them to a spinning top. Chandi Babu further questioned the utility of rockets, stating they had no meaning for them in the village unless they could watch a launch in Calcutta. Ramkanai, being younger, did acknowledge space travel as a human achievement.
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 ?
Answer: Sripati Babu had said that if someone from a different planet were to come to Earth, they would not come to a God-forsaken place like Kankurgachhi. He believed that aliens were no fools, were like sahibs, and would land in some western country where all the sahibs live. Almost everyone agreed with this statement, with the sole exception of Bonku Babu.
2. Who nudged Nidhu Babu? Why ?
Answer: Chandi Babu nudged Nidhu Babu silently. He did this to take the mockery of Bonku Babu further, by pointing at Bonku Babu and innocently suggesting that it would be natural for aliens to want to come to a place where there was a man like Bonkubihari, especially if they wanted to take away a human specimen.
3. When Chandi Babu says “I think Bonku is quite right’, does he mean it ? In which tone does he speak?
Answer: No, Chandi Babu does not mean it when he says, “I think Bonku is quite right.” He speaks in an innocent but actually sarcastic or ironic tone, intending to mock Bonku Babu’s suggestion that aliens might come to Kankurgachhi.
4. For what would Bonku Babu be suitable according to Ram Kanai?
Answer: According to Ramkanai, Bonku Babu would be suitable for keeping in a museum or a zoo, chipping in after Nidhu Babu suggested Bonku would be the ideal specimen for aliens.
5. What impression do you form of the speakers participating in the discussion?
Answer: I form the impression that the speakers participating in the discussion, such as Sripati Babu, Chandi Babu, Nidhu Babu, and Ramkanai, are generally unkind, mocking, and condescending towards Bonku Babu. They seem to derive amusement from ridiculing him and are quick to dismiss his ideas and belittle him, treating him as an object of fun rather than a peer.
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 ?
Answer: No, Bonku Babu did not reply to the derogatory remarks of the regulars. He remained silent because he was generally meek and could not afford to lose his temper, knowing how difficult it would be to find another job at his age. He also feared the influential Sripati Majumdar.
2. What did Bonku think about Bhairav Chakravarty ?
Answer: Bonku Babu thought that Bhairav Chakravarty’s eyes were like the eyes of a tortoise.
3. According to Bonku how could a zoo be filled up ?
Answer: According to Bonku Babu’s silent thoughts, a zoo could be filled up with the regulars at Sripati Babu’s house, as he mentally compared Sripati Babu’s chin to a camel’s, Bhairav Chakravarty’s eyes to a tortoise’s, Nidhu Babu to a rat, Ramkanai to a goat, and Chandi Babu to a flittermouse.
4. Why had Bonku come to the meeting ?
Answer: Bonku Babu had come to the meeting hoping, for once, to enjoy himself.
5. In what state of mind Bonku Babu stood up to leave? Why ?
Answer: Bonku Babu stood up to leave with tears in his eyes, feeling deeply hurt and disappointed. He had hoped to enjoy himself for once, but the relentless mockery from the regulars made it clear that this was not going to happen, and he felt he could not stay there any longer.
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 ?
Answer: The light referred to in the second line is the strange, glowing pink light that Bonku Babu suddenly saw in the middle of Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove, in the clearing near a small pond.
2. Why did Bonku think that a fire had broken out ?
Answer: Bonku Babu thought that a fire had broken out because a large area in the middle of Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove was glowing pink, and a dull light shone on every branch and leaf, with a much stronger pink light illuminating the ground behind the pond.
3. How did the ground behind the pond look ?
Answer: The ground behind the pond was lit by a much stronger pink light.
4. What could be seen in the middle of the bamboo grove? How did it impact every branch and every leaf?
Answer: In the middle of the bamboo grove, a large area could be seen glowing pink. This light impacted every branch and every leaf by making a dull light shine on them.
5. What effect did the noise have on Bonku Babu? Why did he move forward?
Answer: The noise, a long, steady humming sound that made his ears ring, caused Bonku Babu to break out into goose pimples. He moved further forward because an irrepressible curiosity drove him, despite the unsettling noise.
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?
Answer: A weird creature, who later introduced himself as Ang from the planet Craneus, came out of the strange object.
2. How did that creature look ?
Answer: The creature had a head like a plain, smooth ball, and its arms and legs were amazingly thin. Its whole body, except for the head, was covered by a shiny, pink outfit. Instead of ears, it had tiny holes on each side of its head. On its face, there were two holes where a nose should have been, and another gaping hole instead of a mouth. There was no sign of hair anywhere, and its eyes were round, bright yellow, and appeared to be glowing in the dark.
3. What did it have instead of ears ?
Answer: 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 ?
Answer: Several features tell me that the ‘weird creature’ Bonku saw could not be a human: its head was like a plain, smooth ball; its arms and legs were amazingly thin; it had tiny holes on each side of its head instead of ears; its face had two holes where a nose should be and a gaping hole for a mouth; it had no hair anywhere; and its round, bright yellow eyes appeared to be glowing in the dark.
5. What did the strange creature do after coming out of that object ?
Answer: After coming out of the object, the strange creature walked slowly towards Bonku Babu and stopped only a few feet away. Then, it gave him a steady, unblinking stare for nearly a minute before speaking to him.
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 ?
Answer: Bonku Babu felt quite uncomfortable because the creature had reached out and was examining his arms and legs with its long, bony fingers.
2. What did the creature tell Bonku about himself ?
Answer: The creature told Bonku Babu that he was Ang, from the planet Craneus, and that he was a far superior being than man.
3. What surprised Bonku when he listened to the alien ?
Answer: Bonku Babu was surprised that this creature, who was barely four feet tall, with such thin limbs and a weird face, claimed to be superior to man. The idea made him nearly burst out laughing.
4. How did the strange creature introduce himself to Bonku Babu ?
Answer: The strange creature introduced himself to Bonku Babu by stating, “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 ?
Answer: Several things tell me about Ang’s superiority to ordinary human beings. Firstly, Ang could read Bonku Babu’s mind immediately. Secondly, Ang knew 14,000 languages from our solar system and thirty-one languages from planets outside our system, having visited twenty-five of them, whereas Bonku Babu knew only two and a half. Thirdly, Ang was 833 years old, while Bonku Babu was fifty. Ang also possessed advanced technology, such as a small pebble-like object that could render an enemy powerless and a tube-like device through which Bonku Babu could see distant places like the North Pole and Brazil.
Project Assignments
1. How did Bonku Babu’s students tease him and what used to be his reaction?
Answer: Bonku Babu’s students had a long-standing tradition of teasing him. For the twenty-two years he taught geography and Bengali at the Kankurgachhi Village Primary School, every batch of students, old or new, continued this practice. Their pranks were varied: some would draw his cartoon on the blackboard, others would put glue on his chair, and on occasions like the night of Kali Puja, they would even light a chasing rocket and set it off right behind him.
Despite these provocations, Bonku Babu rarely lost his temper. No one had ever actually seen him get cross. His usual reaction was quite mild; only sometimes, he would clear his throat and simply say, “Shame on you, boys!” He maintained his calm partly because he couldn’t afford to lose his job, and also because he found reward in teaching the few good students in every class.
2. Describe the happenings at the meeting in Sripati Majumdar’s house.
Answer: During the weekends, Bonku Babu would visit the house of the lawyer, Sripati Majumdar, to spend the evenings with other regulars. These gatherings, however, were often a source of discomfort for Bonku Babu. Nearly everyone present would poke fun at him, making him the butt of their ridicule, and sometimes their teasing would push his endurance to its limit. Sripati Majumdar himself, an important man in the village and on the school committee, didn’t discourage this behavior and, in fact, seemed to enjoy the amusement Bonku Babu provided.
Specific incidents highlight this atmosphere. For instance, when the conversation once turned to ghosts, Bonku Babu uncharacteristically declared he wasn’t afraid of them. This provided a “golden opportunity” for the others, and later that night, he was attacked by a ‘spook’ – someone from the group disguised and covered in black ink – who jumped on his back from a tamarind tree. His new kurta was torn and stained, and his neck ached for days.
On another occasion, the topic was space travel and satellites. When Bonku Babu, who had actually spotted a strange light first, found Nidhu Babu taking credit for it, he said nothing. The group, largely ignorant about satellites, offered their dismissive views. When Bonku Babu gently suggested, “Suppose… suppose they came here?” referring to aliens, he was loudly ridiculed by Bhairav Chakravarty. Sripati Babu then authoritatively stated that aliens, being “sahibs,” would only land in Western countries, not a “God-forsaken place” like Kankurgachhi. This led to further mockery, with Chandi Babu, Nidhu Babu, and Ramkanai sarcastically suggesting Bonku Babu would be an ideal “specimen” for aliens, suitable for a museum or a zoo. These remarks deeply hurt Bonku Babu, who had hoped for once to enjoy himself.
3. Narrate the incident in which Bonku Babu comes across Ang.
Answer: After being cruelly mocked at Sripati Majumdar’s house, Bonku Babu left, feeling dejected. As he walked home via a shortcut, he noticed something unusual: the crickets were eerily silent. Soon, he saw a strange, glowing pink light in Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove, near a small pond. At first, he thought it was a fire, but the light was still. Curiosity overcoming his goose pimples from a strange humming sound that made his ears ring, he moved closer.
He then saw an object that looked like a giant glass bowl turned upside-down, covering the pond, emitting a strong, gentle pink light. As he tried to get a better look, he suddenly felt an electric current and was rendered completely immobile, as if tied by an invisible rope. A few moments later, the object stopped ‘breathing’, the humming ceased, and his ears stopped ringing.
A thin, human-like voice spoke in a strange language, then in English, asking, “Who are you?” Bonku Babu identified himself. The voice then spoke “Namaskar!”, and Bonku Babu felt the invisible bonds disappear. A portion of the glass mound slid open like a door, and a creature emerged. It had a head like a plain, smooth ball, amazingly thin arms and legs, a shiny pink outfit covering its body (except the head), tiny holes for ears, two holes for a nose, a gaping hole for a mouth, and round, bright yellow, glowing eyes with no hair anywhere.
This creature, Ang from the planet Craneus, approached Bonku Babu. After confirming he was on Earth (he was supposed to go to Pluto), Ang, despite being barely four feet tall, declared himself a far superior being to man. To prove this, Ang mentioned knowing 14,000 languages and being 833 years old. He showed Bonku Babu a small pebble-like object that could render an enemy powerless without physical harm – this was what had immobilized Bonku. Ang then used a small tube with a glass end to show Bonku Babu vivid scenes of places he longed to see: the North Pole with its Aurora Borealis, igloos, polar bears, and fighting walruses; and then Brazil, showing a dense forest with a giant anaconda and a canal where a crocodile was swiftly stripped to its bones by piranhas.
Finally, Ang told Bonku Babu that his major fault was being too meek and mild, which was why he had made little progress in life. Ang advised him that he must always speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurt or insulted him without provocation, as taking things quietly is wrong for any creature. With that, Ang leapt back into his spaceship, which rose above the bamboo grove and vanished. The crickets started chirping again, and Bonku Babu, realizing the extraordinary nature of his experience, resumed his walk home, his mind in a wondrous haze but a new resolve forming.
4. Give a description of Ang and the circumstances that make the setting of the story unusual.
Answer: Ang, the alien from the planet Craneus, had a very distinct and non-human appearance. His head was like a plain, smooth ball, completely devoid of hair. His arms and legs were described as amazingly thin. His body, with the exception of his head, was covered in a shiny, pink outfit. Instead of conventional ears, Ang had tiny holes on each side of his head. His facial features were also unique: two holes where a nose would typically be, and another gaping hole that served as a mouth. His eyes were particularly striking – round, bright yellow, and they appeared to be glowing in the dark. Despite being only about four feet tall, Ang possessed superior intelligence and abilities, claiming to be 833 years old and knowing 14,000 languages. He also had advanced technology, like a device to immobilize others and another to show vivid, real-time images of distant locations.
The circumstances that make the setting of the story unusual stem primarily from the stark contrast between the ordinary, rural village of Kankurgachhi and the extraordinary event of an alien encounter. Kankurgachhi is depicted as a mundane, “God-forsaken place” where the regulars at Sripati Babu’s house believe nothing significant, especially an alien landing, could ever happen. The specific landing site – Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove, a familiar local spot near a small pond – further heightens this contrast. The lead-up to Ang’s appearance also contributes to the unusual atmosphere: the sudden, eerie silence of the crickets, which Bonku Babu notices, followed by the appearance of a mysterious, large pink glowing light and a strange humming sound. The spaceship itself, described as a “giant glass bowl turned upside-down,” appearing in such a commonplace setting, makes the entire scenario profoundly unusual and surreal for Bonku Babu and for the story’s atmosphere.
5. What kind of transformation happens to Bonku Babu ? How far do you agree that such a transformation is possible in life ?
Answer: A profound transformation happens to Bonku Babu after his encounter with Ang. For twenty-two years, he had been a meek, timid, and tolerant school teacher, enduring constant teasing from his students and ridicule from his adult acquaintances at Sripati Majumdar’s gatherings. He rarely, if ever, got angry or spoke out against the injustice and disrespect he faced. However, Ang’s direct advice – that he must always speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurts or insults him without provocation, and that taking things quietly is wrong – acted as a catalyst.
The Bonku Babu who attends the meeting at Sripati’s house the very next day is a completely changed man. He is no longer sheepish. He enters like a “small hurricane,” bursts into an uproarious guffaw, and then boldly and confidently addresses the group. He tells them it’s his last meeting with them, calls their talk “absolute rubbish,” and proceeds to confront each of his tormentors directly and fearlessly. He tells Chandi Babu to return his stolen shoes and umbrella, calls Nidhu Babu a “Nitwit” if he’s to be called “Bunkum,” dismisses Sripati Babu’s need for sycophants, and even informs Poncha Ghosh about Ang’s landing in his bamboo grove. He slaps Bhairav Chakravarty on the back so hard he chokes, and then makes a triumphant exit, “striding out with a bounce and a whistle, his eyes sparkling, his head held high.” He transforms from a passive victim into an assertive individual who stands up for himself.
Regarding whether such a transformation is possible in life, the story suggests that a truly extraordinary and perspective-altering experience, coupled with direct, empowering advice from an unexpected source, can indeed trigger a significant change in someone’s demeanor and behavior. Bonku Babu’s encounter was not just a simple event; it was a validation of his quiet interests (geography, distant lands) and a direct challenge to his lifelong passivity from a being he perceived as vastly superior. While an alien encounter is fantastical, in real life, profound experiences, moments of sudden clarity, or the impact of a powerful mentor or event can sometimes lead individuals to shed long-held inhibitions and find the courage to change their way of interacting with the world, especially if they have been suppressing their true feelings for a long time. The story shows that once Bonku Babu found his voice, the years of pent-up frustration were released, leading to a dramatic but, for him, liberating transformation.
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 of ‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ strongly supports the statement that “Those who do not speak out against injustice and maltreatment are bound to be exploited and have to suffer.” Bonku Babu’s life before meeting Ang is a clear illustration of this. For over two decades, he endured relentless teasing from his students, who drew his cartoons, put glue on his chair, and set off rockets behind him. He also suffered continuous ridicule and humiliation at the weekend gatherings at Sripati Majumdar’s house, where he was made the “butt of ridicule” by grown men. They played cruel pranks on him, like the ‘spook’ incident, and openly mocked his intelligence and appearance.
Bonku Babu suffered this exploitation precisely because he did not speak out. He was “much too meek and mild,” and his usual response to provocation was silence or a very gentle “Shame on you, boys!” He took things quietly, partly out of fear for his job and his timid nature. This passivity made him an easy target and allowed the exploitation to continue unchecked for years.
Ang’s arrival and his pointed advice become the turning point. Ang explicitly tells Bonku Babu, “You must always speak up against injustice, and protest if anyone hurts or insults you without any provocation. To take things quietly is wrong, not just for man, but for any creature anywhere.” This counsel directly addresses Bonku Babu’s lifelong habit of silent suffering.
The transformation in Bonku Babu after he internalizes this advice is immediate and dramatic. The very next day, he confronts his tormentors at Sripati Babu’s house. He speaks out boldly against their “absolute rubbish,” calls out their specific wrongdoings (like Chandi Babu hiding his shoes), and refuses to be their source of amusement any longer. By speaking out, he not only ends his suffering in that particular context but also reclaims his dignity. His tormentors are left stunned and speechless, their power over him broken. Thus, the story powerfully demonstrates that silence in the face of injustice perpetuates suffering, while finding the courage to speak out is essential to ending exploitation and asserting one’s self-worth.
Morning Star workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions II
1. Who among of the following was a good storyteller?
(a) Nidhu Babu.
(b) Bhairav Chakravarty.
(c) Bonku Babu
(d) Sripati Majumdar.
Answer: (c) Bonku Babu
2. Why does Bonku Babu say, “Shame on you boys!”?
(a) The boys teased Bonku Babu.
(b) The boys were fond of throwing stress to Bonku Babu.
(c) They abused him in the class.
(d) The boys insulted him in the class.
Answer: (a) The boys teased Bonku Babu.
3. Which of the following is correct about Bonku Babu?
(a) Bonku Babu was a prankster
(b) He was a storyteller.
(c) He was a bad tempered teacher
(d) He was a day-dreamer.
Answer: (b) He was a storyteller.
4. What is referred to as a “golden opportunity”?
(a) To scare Bonku Babu with a ‘spook’.
(b) To find a tamarind tree to hang a spook.
(c) To find spaceships in the village.
(d) To meet an alien.
Answer: (a) To scare Bonku Babu with a spook’.
5. Besides his injured neck what harm did the spook do to Bonku Babu?
(a) He was attacked by a “spook”.
(b) His new kurta was torn and black stains all over.
(c) He was forced to sing.
(d) His shoes were hidden.
Answer: (b) His new kurta was torn and black stains all over.
6. Why did Bonku Babu leave early that day?
(a) Everybody was hurling bitter remarks on him.
(b) He was in a hurry to correct the papers.
(c) He felt that it was not a congenial environment for him.
(d) He was very much shocked.
Answer: (c) He felt that it was not a congenial environment for him.
7. What was Ramkanai’s idea about “Saturday”?
(a) Saturday is week end.
(b) Saturday is inauspicious.
(c) Saturday is auspicious for ghosts and spooks.
(d) To avoid doing any good work on Saturday.
Answer: (c) Saturday is auspicious for ghosts and spooks.
8. Why was the silence eerie according to Bonku Babu?
(a) There was absolute silence.
(b) It was evening time.
(c) The animals were asleep.
(d) There was no light only a dull light shone on every branch.
Answer: (a) There was absolute silence.
9. Why was Bonku Babu feeling uncomfortable with the alien?
(a) The creature was unusually tall and had a weird face.
(b) Bonku Babu was afraid of him.
(c) The strange creature was examining Bonku Babu’s arms and legs.
(d) He suspected the creature to be a ghost.
Answer: (c) The strange creature was examining Bonku Babu’s arms and legs.
10. Why was Bonku Babu not able to move even an inch?
(a) Ang’s pebble like object had made him immobile.
(b) He was froze at the sight of the spaceship.
(c) He was afraid of ghost.
(d) He was puzzled at the sight of Ang.
Answer: (a) Ang’s pebble-like object had made him immobile.
Context Questions
Extract 1
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.
(i) What in the extract shows that the students were teasing Bonku Babu for a long time?
Answer: Bonku Babu had been teaching for twenty-two years, and every year, the tradition of teasing him continued with both old and new batches of students, showing that this teasing had been ongoing for a long time.
(ii) What form of teasing was used by his students?
Answer: The students drew cartoons of Bonku Babu on the blackboard, put glue on his chair, and set off a chasing rocket behind him during Kali Puja, among other pranks.
(iii) How did Bonku Babu react to the teasing by the students?
Answer: Bonku Babu did not get upset and maintained his calm. Occasionally, he would clear his throat and mildly rebuke them by saying, “Shame on you, boys!”
(iv) According to the bank Babu, what made his life as a teacher worth living?
Answer: The presence of a few good students in each class, whom he could teach and mentor, made his life as a teacher worthwhile. He found teaching these students rewarding.
(v) Why did Banku Babu put up with the teasing?
Answer: Bonku Babu endured the teasing because he couldn’t afford to lose his job and knew how difficult it would be to find another one at his age. Additionally, he found satisfaction in teaching the few good students in each class.
Extract 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 open it and declared that he was not afraid of the ghost that was all! but it was enough to offer a golden opportunity to others. On his way back home later, that night Banku Bhaiya was attacked by a spook.
(i) What made his associates arrange and attacked on Bonku babu by a spook? How is it shown in the story that the attack was arranged by associates?
Answer: Bonku Babu’s declaration that he was not afraid of ghosts provided an opportunity for his associates to play a prank. The attack was arranged by them, as it is mentioned that the “spook” smeared with black ink was possibly suggested by someone at the meeting.
(ii) Describe in your own words the attack by the spook.
Answer: As Bonku Babu was passing under a tamarind tree, a tall, thin figure, smeared with black ink, jumped onto his back, pretending to be a ghost. This figure was likely one of his associates.
(iii) What happened to Bonku Babu as a result of the attack?
Answer: Bonku Babu was not scared, but he was injured. His neck ached for three days, and his new kurta was torn and stained with black ink.
(iv) What was the favourable conditions for the spook to attack?
Answer: The attack took place at night, under the cover of darkness, and Bonku Babu was walking alone, which made it easier for the prank to be carried out.
(v) Why did Bonku Babu attend a meeting despite the attack by the spook? If he were not to attend the meeting what would happen? what does it show about rural life in this area?
Answer: Bonku Babu attended the meetings because he was concerned about what Sripati Babu, an important figure in the village and the school committee, might think if he didn’t show up. Not attending could have affected his standing in the community. This illustrates the social pressures and the importance of maintaining one’s position in the close-knit rural society.
Extract 3
That particular evening Bonku Babu was the first to spot the strange light. Then he call Nidhu Babu and showed it to him. However, when he arrived at the meeting, he found that Nidhu Babu has coolly claimed full credit for being a person to see it, and was boasting a great deal about it. Bonku Babu said nothing
(i) Why did Nidhu Babu say that he was the first person to spot the strange light? What does it say about his character?
Answer: Nidhu Babu falsely claimed credit for spotting the light to boast and seek attention. This shows that he is self-serving and willing to take advantage of others to elevate himself in front of his peers.
(ii)what does Bonku Babu’s silence show about his character?
Answer: Bonku Babu’s silence demonstrates his meekness and tolerance. He is not confrontational and tends to accept injustices quietly rather than challenge them.
(iii) Later, why did they change the topic of satellites?
Answer: The group shifted to talking about satellites to avoid continuing the conversation about the strange light, perhaps because they lacked knowledge or interest in the initial topic and wanted to discuss something more concrete.
(iv) What did Ramkanai say about human achievement?
Answer: Ramkanai acknowledged that although none of them had contributed to it, space exploration and satellites represented a significant achievement for humanity.
(v) What is the prospect of a rocket landing in the village? Why? What was Bonku Babu’s view on this?
Answer: The group dismissed the idea of a rocket landing in their village as irrelevant to their lives. Bonku Babu, however, entertained the possibility, showing his openness to imaginative and extraordinary ideas, unlike his more cynical peers.
Extract 4
“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,” Ramkanat chipped in.
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 tortoise. Nidhu Babau looks like a rat, Ramkhanai is like a goat and Chandi Babu is like a flittermouse. If a zoo really had to be filled up…!
Tears sprang to his eyes.
(i) Why did he call Bonk Babu an ‘ideal specimen’ and for whom?
Answer: Bonku Babu was called an ‘ideal specimen’ for aliens to take, as the others mocked him for his perceived simplicity and lack of intelligence.
(ii) Why did he call him as “Bunkum”? what does it say about his perception of Bonku Babu?
Answer: They called him “Bunkum” as a way of belittling him, implying that he was talking nonsense. It reflects their disrespect and dismissive attitude towards Bonku Babu.
(iii) Name three of his associates whom Bonku Babu says could be other specimens. what reasons does he gave for his choice?
Answer: Bonku Babu suggests Sripati Babu (with a chin like a camel), Bhairav Chakravarty (with tortoise-like eyes), and Nidhu Babu (who looks like a rat) as suitable specimens for a zoo, highlighting their own physical quirks.
(iv) Why didn’t Bonku Babu wonder silently about his associates what would have happened if he had spoken?
Answer: Bonku Babu stayed silent because he was too mild-mannered to speak up. If he had voiced his thoughts, it might have led to a confrontation or ridicule.
(v) How did Bonku Babu reply to each of his associates mentioned in the extract and the end of the story?
Answer: At the end of the story, Bonku Babu finally stands up for himself, directly confronting his associates and delivering cutting remarks to each of them, showcasing his newfound confidence after the encounter with Ang.
Extract 5
Puzzled, Bonku Babu walked another 20 yards and then he suddenly saw the light. At first, he thought that a fire had broken out. Bang in the middle of Poncha Ghosh’s the bamboo groove, in the clearing near a small pond, quite a large area was glowing pink. A dull light on every branch and every leaf. Down below the ground behind the pond was lit by much stronger, pink light.
(i) From where Bonku Babu was coming? Was he in a hurry that day?
Answer: Bonku Babu was returning from a meeting at Sripati Babu’s house. He was not in a particular hurry, but he was walking with purpose due to the unsettling atmosphere caused by the unusual silence of the crickets and the eerie environment.
(ii) Describe what Bonku Babu saw in front of him?
Answer: Bonku Babu saw a pink glow in Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove. The light illuminated every branch and leaf, and a much stronger pink light radiated from the ground behind a small pond.
(iii) What made Bonku Babu think that fire had broken out in the area? How did he react?
Answer: At first, Bonku Babu thought the pink glow was the result of a fire because of the way the area was lit up. However, upon realizing the light was steady and not flickering like fire, he became curious rather than panicked and continued to move closer.
(iv) Briefly describe the object that Bonku Babu saw?
Answer: He saw an object that resembled a giant glass bowl turned upside-down, covering the pond. It was from this object that the pink light was emanating.
(v) Imagine yourself to be in Bonku Babu’s place. What would you have done? Why?
Answer: If I were in Bonku Babu’s place, I would likely have been cautious and hesitant, perhaps considering retreating rather than approaching the strange light. However, curiosity might have drawn me closer, much like it did for Bonku Babu, to understand the unusual sight.
Extract 6
“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 a 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?”
(i) Who was Ang? and describe his appearance according to the extract.
Answer: Ang was an alien from the planet Craneus. He was described as being barely four feet tall, with thin limbs, a weird face, and bright yellow, glowing eyes. His body was covered in a shiny, pink outfit, and he lacked traditional human features like a nose and hair.
(ii) Why does he say he is superior to human beings?
Answer: Ang claimed to be superior to humans because of his advanced age (833 years), knowledge of over 14,000 languages, and his experiences on various planets. He also mentioned that his species had stopped eating meat centuries ago, showing a form of moral or intellectual superiority.
(iii) what does Ang say about his knowledge of language?
Answer: Ang boasted that he knew every language spoken in the solar system, including 31 languages from planets outside of it, demonstrating his vast intellectual capability.
(iv) How does Bonku Babu react when Ang greeted him?
Answer: At first, Bonku Babu was sceptical and nearly laughed at Ang’s claim of superiority. However, once Ang began demonstrating his abilities, Bonku Babu became more respectful and astonished.
(v) Compare Ang and Bonku Babu.
Answer: Ang is portrayed as a confident and superior being with vast knowledge, whereas Bonku Babu is portrayed as a simple, humble man with limited knowledge and a meek nature. Ang is advanced, with a deep understanding of the universe, while Bonku Babu represents an average human with ordinary experiences and a lack of self-confidence.
Extract 7
Bonku Babu peered through the glass and felt all his hair rise. Could this be true? Could he really believe eyes? Before him stretched and endless expanses of snow dotted with large Hill locks also covered with ice and snow. Above him, against a deep blue sky, all the colours of a rainbow were forming different patterns, changing every second. The Aurora Borealis what was that? An igloo. There was a group of polar bears wait, there was another animal, a strong, peculiar creature…
(i) What did Bonku Babu think he wanted to see?
Answer: Bonku Babu thought he wanted to see the North Pole, as he was from a warm country and was fascinated by the idea of snow-covered landscapes.
(ii) what was ‘the glass’ who gave it to Bonku Babu? Why?
Answer: The “glass” was a tube-like instrument with a piece of glass at one end. Ang gave it to Bonku Babu, allowing him to see distant places like the North Pole and Brazil, fulfilling Bonku Babu’s desire to experience these locations.
(iii) which was the strange peculiar creature?
Answer: The strange creature Bonku Babu saw through the glass was a walrus, which appeared large and intimidating during a fight with another walrus.
(iv) when Ang mentioned Brazil what was the first thought that come to Bonku Babu? What does it show about Banku Babu’s character?
Answer: When Ang mentioned Brazil, Bonku Babu immediately thought of piranhas, the carnivorous fish. This shows that Bonku Babu’s knowledge of foreign places came from what he had read or heard, rather than personal experience, indicating a curious but limited worldview.
(v) After watching through the tube for sometime, why could not Bonku Babu beer to watch anymore? what did and ask after Bonku Babu was it through the instrument?
Answer: Bonku Babu could not bear to watch anymore because the vivid scenes, especially the sight of piranhas devouring a crocodile, overwhelmed him. Afterward, Ang asked if Bonku Babu now believed in his superiority.
Extract 8
Look, I have been observing you and I have examined your arms and legs you belong to a much inferior species. There is no doubt about that. However, as human beings go you are not too bad. I mean you are a good man but you have a major fault you a must to make and build. That is why you have have made so little progress in life. You must always speak up against injustice and protest. If anyone hurts or insult you without any provocation to take things quietly is wrong. Not just for Ma’am but for any creature anywhere anyway it was nice to have meet you all though. I wasn’t really supposed to be here at this time. There’s no point investing more time on your earth. I had better go.”
(i) According to Ang what was Bonku Babu measure fault? Why did Ang says that manga Bonku Babu made little progress in life?
Answer: Ang believed Bonku Babu’s major fault was that he was too meek and mild. Ang suggested that Bonku Babu’s passive nature and reluctance to speak out against injustice or insult had prevented him from making significant progress in life.
(ii) What did Ang advise Bonku Babu to do if anyone hurt him without any provocation?
Answer: Ang advised Bonku Babu to speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurt or insulted him without reason, as remaining silent was wrong for any creature.
(iii) Why did Ang leave the planet in a hurry?
Answer: Ang left the planet in a hurry because he was not supposed to be there at that time and saw no point in staying longer on Earth.
(iv) State whether Ang really existed or was a literary device to show one’s selfconfidence.
Answer: Ang could be interpreted as a real character in the story, but symbolically, he represents a literary device to help Bonku Babu realize his own worth and potential, awakening a new sense of self-confidence.
(v) How did Bonku Babu take Ang’s advise what was its result?
Answer: Bonku Babu took Ang’s advice to heart. The next day, he confidently stood up to the people who had mocked him, speaking his mind for the first time. The result was that Bonku Babu felt empowered and liberated from his past submissiveness.
Extras/additional
Questions and answers
Extract 1
No one had ever seen Bonku Babu get cross. To tell the truth, it was difficult to imagine what he might say or do if he did get angry.
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.
(i) What subjects did Bonku Babu teach?
Answer: Bonku Babu taught two subjects: geography and Bengali, both of which he had been teaching for many years at the village school. His students, however, often failed to show respect for his efforts in educating them.
(ii) Where did Bonku Babu teach?
Answer: He taught at the Kankurgachhi Village Primary School, a small rural institution where he had spent the better part of his life as a teacher.
(iii) How did the students treat Bonku Babu?
Answer: The students regularly teased him. They would draw his cartoon on the blackboard, put glue on his chair, and even light a chasing rocket behind him during Kali Puja as part of their pranks.
(iv) How long had Bonku Babu been teaching?
Answer: Bonku Babu had been teaching at the Kankurgachhi Village Primary School for twenty-two years, a considerable amount of time during which he patiently endured the constant mischief of his students.
(v) Did Bonku Babu ever lose his temper with the students?
Answer: Despite all the teasing and pranks, Bonku Babu never lost his temper. It was difficult to imagine him getting angry, even though he had faced numerous reasons to be upset over the years.
Extract 2
One of the reasons for maintaining his calm was simply that he could not afford to do otherwise. If he did lose his temper and left his job in a fit of pique, he knew how difficult it would then be to find another, at his age. Another reason was that in every class, there were always a few good students, even if the rest of the class was full of pranksters. Teaching this handful of good boys was so rewarding that, to Bonku Babu, that alone made life as a teacher worth living.
(i) Why did Bonku Babu try to remain calm despite the teasing?
Answer: Bonku Babu maintained his calm because he knew that, at his age, finding another job would be extremely difficult if he lost his temper and left the school. His financial stability depended on keeping his position.
(ii) What was the other reason for Bonku Babu’s patience?
Answer: Apart from the fear of unemployment, Bonku Babu also found great satisfaction in teaching the few good students in his class. The joy of seeing these diligent students excel made enduring the bad behavior of the pranksters worthwhile.
(iii) How did Bonku Babu find his job rewarding?
Answer: Despite the challenges, Bonku Babu found his job rewarding because of the opportunity to teach and inspire the handful of dedicated students in each class. Their appreciation for learning gave him a sense of purpose.
(iv) What kind of students did Bonku Babu typically have in his class?
Answer: While most of the students in his class were mischievous pranksters who constantly teased him, there were always a few serious and hardworking students who genuinely valued his teaching.
(v) What did Bonku Babu do for the good students?
Answer: Bonku Babu invited the good students to his home, where he offered them snacks and told them fascinating stories about foreign lands, historical adventures, and scientific discoveries. He enjoyed connecting with these students outside the classroom.
Extract 3
On a particular day, the topic of conversation was space—in other words, they were talking about spaceships and space travel. Soon after sunset, a moving point of light had been seen in the northern sky. A similar light had been seen three months ago, which had led to much speculation. In the end, it had turned out to be a Russian satellite, called Khotka—or was it Phoska?
(i) What topic were the group discussing that evening?
Answer: The group was discussing the subject of space, particularly spaceships and space travel. This was sparked by their observation of a mysterious light in the sky that evening.
(ii) What was seen in the sky after sunset?
Answer: A moving point of light was seen in the northern sky. This sighting attracted their attention and led to various speculations about its origin and nature.
(iii) Had a similar light been seen before? If so, when?
Answer: Yes, a similar light had been observed three months earlier, leading to much excitement and speculation among the locals about its possible significance.
(iv) What was the light eventually identified as?
Answer: The light was identified as a Russian satellite. There was some confusion over its name—some called it Khotka, while others referred to it as Phoska.
(v) How did the group react to the satellite sighting?
Answer: The group had mixed reactions. While some dismissed it as nothing special, others saw it as a significant achievement of human progress in space exploration. However, they all engaged in lively discussion about space and its mysteries.
Extract 4
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 Poncha Ghosh’s 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.
(i) What did Bonku Babu see as he walked further?
Answer: As Bonku Babu continued walking, he saw a glowing pink light in the middle of Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove. The sight puzzled him, and for a moment, he thought it might be a fire.
(ii) Where was the source of the pink light?
Answer: The pink light was emanating from a clearing near a small pond in the middle of Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove, illuminating everything around it.
(iii) What was Bonku Babu’s initial reaction to the light?
Answer: Bonku Babu was initially puzzled and concerned, thinking that the light might be from a fire. However, he soon realized that it was something else entirely.
(iv) How did the light affect the surroundings?
Answer: The pink light illuminated every branch and leaf in the grove, casting a strange, otherworldly glow over the entire area.
(v) Did Bonku Babu stop or continue after seeing the light?
Answer: Despite feeling puzzled and slightly uneasy, Bonku Babu continued walking towards the light, driven by an irrepressible curiosity to discover its source.
Extract 5
Ang said, “Is there any place that you have wished to visit, or a scene that you have longed to see, but never could?”
Bonku Babu thought: why, the whole world remained to be seen! He taught geography, but what had he seen except a few villages and towns in Bengal? There was so much in Bengal itself that he had never had the chance to see.
(i) What did Ang ask Bonku Babu?
Answer: Ang asked if there was any place or scene that Bonku Babu had always wanted to see but never had the chance to visit.
(ii) What was Bonku Babu’s initial thought in response to the question?
Answer: Bonku Babu immediately thought about how much of the world he had yet to see. Despite teaching geography, his travels had been limited to a few villages and towns in Bengal.
(iii) What places had Bonku Babu visited in his life?
Answer: Bonku Babu had seen very little of the world, having only visited a few places within Bengal. He had not had the opportunity to explore further than his local surroundings.
(iv) What did Bonku Babu teach, and how did that contrast with his experiences?
Answer: Bonku Babu taught geography, a subject that involved the study of the world and its wonders, but ironically, his personal experiences of traveling were very limited.
(v) How did Bonku Babu feel about his unfulfilled desire to see the world?
Answer: Bonku Babu felt a sense of longing and unfulfilled curiosity, wishing he could see more of the world beyond the few places he had known.
Extract 6
In the last few minutes, he had become aware of something unusual. At first, he could not put his finger on it. Somehow, things were different tonight. What was wrong? What was missing? Suddenly he realized what it was. The crickets were silent. Not one was chirping. Today, there was only an eerie silence. What had happened to all the crickets? Were they all asleep?
(i) What unusual thing did Bonku Babu notice?
Answer: Bonku Babu noticed an eerie silence as the crickets, which normally chirped at night, were completely silent.
(ii) How did Bonku Babu initially react to the unusual silence?
Answer: He felt puzzled and uneasy, as he could not immediately figure out what was wrong with the environment.
(iii) What was normally present in the atmosphere that was missing?
Answer: The sound of crickets chirping was normally present, but on that night, the crickets were completely silent, which unnerved him.
(iv) Did Bonku Babu understand why the crickets were silent?
Answer: No, he could not understand why the crickets had suddenly stopped making any noise and wondered if they were asleep.
(v) How did the silence affect Bonku Babu’s feelings?
Answer: The unusual silence added to Bonku Babu’s sense of unease and made him more aware of the strangeness of the situation.
Extract 7
As he went past a cluster of bamboo stems, an object came into view. It looked like a giant glass bowl turned upside-down, covering the pond completely. It was through its translucent shade that a strong, yet gentle pink light was shining out, turning the whole area radiant.
(i) What object did Bonku Babu see as he moved closer?
Answer: Bonku Babu saw an object resembling a giant glass bowl turned upside-down, covering the pond in Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove.
(ii) What was the source of the pink light Bonku Babu saw?
Answer: The pink light was coming from inside the translucent glass-like object that Bonku Babu saw.
(iii) How did the pink light affect the area around the pond?
Answer: The pink light illuminated the entire area, making the surroundings glow with a radiant, otherworldly hue.
(iv) What did the object resemble, according to Bonku Babu?
Answer: The object resembled a giant glass bowl that was turned upside down and completely covered the pond.
(v) What did Bonku Babu feel as he saw the object?
Answer: He felt a mixture of curiosity and unease as he observed the glowing object, unsure of what it was but compelled to investigate further.
Extract 8
A second later, a voice spoke, shattering the silence of the night. It sounded human, but was extraordinarily thin. “Milipi-ping kruk! Milipi-ping kruk!” it said loudly. Bonku Babu jumped a little. What did it mean? What language was this? And where was the speaker? The next words the voice spoke made his heart jump again.
(i) What did Bonku Babu hear that broke the silence?
Answer: Bonku Babu heard a voice that shattered the silence of the night, speaking an unfamiliar language that sounded like “Milipi-ping kruk!”
(ii) How did the voice sound to Bonku Babu?
Answer: The voice sounded thin and almost human, but it was speaking in a language Bonku Babu had never heard before.
(iii) How did Bonku Babu react to the voice?
Answer: Bonku Babu was startled and jumped a little when he first heard the unfamiliar voice.
(iv) What language did the voice speak initially?
Answer: The voice spoke in a language Bonku Babu did not recognize, causing him to feel confused and frightened.
(v) What happened after the voice spoke in the unfamiliar language?
Answer: After the voice spoke in the strange language, it switched to English, asking “Who are you?”, which made Bonku Babu’s heart race.
Extract 9
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.”
(i) How did Bonku Babu feel when the creature touched him?
Answer: Bonku Babu felt uncomfortable as the creature examined his arms and legs with its long, bony fingers.
(ii) What did the creature do to Bonku Babu?
Answer: The creature reached out and examined Bonku Babu’s body, specifically his arms and legs, before introducing itself.
(iii) What did the creature introduce itself as?
Answer: The creature introduced itself as Ang, a being from the planet Craneus.
(iv) How did Ang describe itself in comparison to humans?
Answer: Ang described itself as a far superior being compared to humans.
(v) How did Bonku Babu react to the creature’s self-description?
Answer: Bonku Babu was incredulous at the creature’s claim of superiority, as Ang appeared small and frail compared to humans.
Extract 10
“Now do you believe that we are superior?” Ang wanted to know. Bonku Babu ran his tongue over his parched lips. “Yes. Oh yes. Certainly. Of course!” he croaked.
“You are much too meek and mild. That is why you have made so little progress in life. You must always speak up against injustice, and protest if anyone hurts or insults you without any provocation.”
(i) What question did Ang ask Bonku Babu?
Answer: Ang asked Bonku Babu whether he now believed that Ang’s species was superior to humans.
(ii) How did Bonku Babu respond to Ang’s question?
Answer: Bonku Babu, feeling overwhelmed and intimidated, responded by agreeing with Ang and saying “Yes, certainly, of course!”
(iii) What advice did Ang give Bonku Babu?
Answer: Ang advised Bonku Babu to stop being so meek and mild, urging him to speak up against injustice and not to let others insult or hurt him without protest.
(iv) What did Ang believe was the reason for Bonku Babu’s lack of progress in life?
Answer: Ang believed that Bonku Babu’s passive and submissive nature was the reason he had made little progress in life.
(v) How did Ang view taking things quietly without protest?
Answer: Ang viewed taking things quietly without protest as wrong, not just for humans but for any creature, suggesting that one should always stand up against injustice.
MCQs: Knowledge Based
1. For how many years had Bonku Babu been teaching at the Kankurgachhi Village School?
(A) Twenty years
(B) Twenty-two years
(C) Fifteen years
(D) Thirty years
Answer: (B) Twenty-two years
2. What subjects did Bonku Babu teach?
(A) History and Mathematics
(B) Geography and Bengali
(C) Science and English
(D) Bengali and Sanskrit
Answer: (B) Geography and Bengali
3. What was a common tradition among Bonku Babu’s students, whether old or new?
(A) Helping him with his work
(B) Teasing him
(C) Bringing him gifts
(D) Asking him for stories every day
Answer: (B) Teasing him
4. Which of these pranks was NOT played on Bonku Babu by his students?
(A) Drawing his cartoon on the blackboard
(B) Putting glue on his chair
(C) Hiding his spectacles
(D) Lighting a chasing rocket behind him on Kali Puja
Answer: (C) Hiding his spectacles
5. What was Bonku Babu’s usual reaction to the students’ pranks?
(A) He would scold them severely.
(B) He would report them to the headmaster.
(C) He would clear his throat and say, “Shame on you, boys!”
(D) He would ignore them completely.
Answer: (C) He would clear his throat and say, “Shame on you, boys!”
6. What was one reason Bonku Babu maintained his calm despite the teasing?
(A) He found the pranks amusing.
(B) He was naturally a very patient person.
(C) He could not afford to lose his job.
(D) The headmaster had asked him to be tolerant.
Answer: (C) He could not afford to lose his job.
7. What made life as a teacher worth living for Bonku Babu, despite the pranksters?
(A) The high salary he received.
(B) The respect he got from the villagers.
(C) Teaching the handful of good students in every class.
(D) The long holidays.
Answer: (C) Teaching the handful of good students in every class.
8. What did Bonku Babu do at times with his good students?
(A) Took them on field trips.
(B) Gave them extra coaching for exams.
(C) Invited them to his house for snacks and stories.
(D) Helped them with their homework.
Answer: (C) Invited them to his house for snacks and stories.
9. Which of these topics was NOT among the tales Bonku Babu told his good students?
(A) Life in Africa
(B) The discovery of the North Pole
(C) The history of Kankurgachhi village
(D) Atlantis, the submerged continent
Answer: (C) The history of Kankurgachhi village
10. Where did Bonku Babu spend his weekend evenings?
(A) At the village library
(B) At Sripati Majumdar’s house
(C) Visiting his relatives
(D) At the school, preparing for the next week
Answer: (B) At Sripati Majumdar’s house
11. What thought often came to Bonku Babu after returning from Sripati Majumdar’s house?
(A) “What a wonderful evening!”
(B) “I should visit them more often.”
(C) “Enough, never again!”
(D) “I must share these stories with my students.”
Answer: (C) “Enough, never again!”
12. Why did Bonku Babu find the teasing by grown-ups at Sripati Babu’s house harder to bear than the pranks by his students?
(A) The grown-ups’ pranks were more dangerous.
(B) He expected better behavior from middle-aged men.
(C) Sripati Babu would join in the teasing.
(D) His students would apologize, but the grown-ups wouldn’t.
Answer: (B) He expected better behavior from middle-aged men.
13. What topic of conversation led to Bonku Babu being attacked by a ‘spook’?
(A) Village politics
(B) School affairs
(C) Ghosts
(D) Space travel
Answer: (C) Ghosts
14. What did Bonku Babu declare during the conversation about ghosts that provided an opportunity for others to prank him?
(A) That he had seen a ghost.
(B) That he was not afraid of ghosts.
(C) That ghosts did not exist.
(D) That he knew how to catch a ghost.
Answer: (B) That he was not afraid of ghosts.
15. What happened to Bonku Babu on his way home after declaring he wasn’t afraid of ghosts?
(A) He got lost in the dark.
(B) He was robbed by bandits.
(C) A tall, thin figure leapt on his back from a tamarind tree.
(D) He saw a real ghost and fainted.
Answer: (C) A tall, thin figure leapt on his back from a tamarind tree.
16. What was the ‘apparition’ that attacked Bonku Babu smeared with?
(A) Mud
(B) Red paint
(C) Black ink
(D) Cow dung
Answer: (C) Black ink
17. What was the immediate consequence for Bonku Babu after the ‘spook’ attack, apart from his neck aching?
(A) He lost his voice for a day.
(B) His new kurta was torn and stained.
(C) He refused to go out at night.
(D) He decided to report the pranksters to the police.
Answer: (B) His new kurta was torn and stained.
18. Why did Bonku Babu feel compelled to continue attending the meetings at Sripati Babu’s house despite the teasing?
(A) He enjoyed the tea and snacks served there.
(B) He was Sripati Babu’s closest friend.
(C) He feared what Sripati Babu, an important man, would think if he didn’t.
(D) He hoped to get an opportunity to play a prank on them.
Answer: (C) He feared what Sripati Babu, an important man, would think if he didn’t.
19. What role did Sripati Babu think Bonku Babu played at the gatherings?
(A) A source of intellectual discussion.
(B) Someone who could provide amusement to all.
(C) A respected elder whose advice was valued.
(D) A quiet observer who never caused trouble.
Answer: (B) Someone who could provide amusement to all.
20. What was the topic of conversation on one particular day at Sripati Babu’s house, shortly after sunset?
(A) The upcoming village festival.
(B) The quality of education at the school.
(C) Spaceships and space-travel.
(D) The rising price of goods.
Answer: (C) Spaceships and space-travel.
21. What had been seen in the northern sky that sparked the conversation about space?
(A) A comet
(B) A meteor shower
(C) A moving point of light
(D) An airplane flying unusually low
Answer: (C) A moving point of light
22. What did the similar light seen three months prior turn out to be?
(A) A weather balloon
(B) A Chinese lantern
(C) A Russian satellite
(D) A new star
Answer: (C) A Russian satellite
23. What was the supposed height at which the Russian satellite was orbiting the Earth?
(A) 100 miles
(B) 200 miles
(C) 400 miles
(D) 800 miles
Answer: (C) 400 miles
24. Who was the first person to spot the strange light that evening, according to Bonku Babu?
(A) Nidhu Babu
(B) Sripati Babu
(C) Bonku Babu himself
(D) Chandi Babu
Answer: (C) Bonku Babu himself
25. Who had coolly claimed full credit for being the first person to see the strange light when Bonku Babu arrived at the meeting?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Chandi Babu
(C) Ramkanai
(D) Nidhu Babu
Answer: (D) Nidhu Babu
26. What was Chandi Babu’s opinion about the excitement over the point of light in the sky?
(A) He thought it was a significant scientific discovery.
(B) He dismissed it as “all humbug.”
(C) He believed it was a secret military aircraft.
(D) He was curious to learn more about it.
Answer: (B) He dismissed it as “all humbug.”
27. Who countered Chandi Babu’s remark, stating that the satellite was a human achievement?
(A) Nidhu Babu
(B) Bhairav Chakravarty
(C) Ramkanai
(D) Sripati Babu
Answer: (C) Ramkanai
28. How did Nidhu Babu describe a satellite’s operation?
(A) As a complex piece of advanced technology.
(B) As something mysterious and beyond understanding.
(C) As no different from a spinning top or a fan.
(D) As a divine phenomenon.
Answer: (C) As no different from a spinning top or a fan.
29. According to Chandi Babu, under what condition would a rocket be “nice”?
(A) If it could travel to other planets.
(B) If it was made in their country and they could watch its launch.
(C) If it could be used for transporting goods quickly.
(D) If it was small enough for personal use.
Answer: (B) If it was made in their country and they could watch its launch.
30. Who agreed with Chandi Babu that a rocket had no meaning for them in the village?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Ramkanai
(C) Nidhu Babu
(D) Bhairav Chakravarty
Answer: (B) Ramkanai
31. Who first raised the hypothetical question about a creature from a different planet arriving on Earth?
(A) Bonku Babu
(B) Sripati Babu
(C) Bhairav Chakravarty
(D) Ramkanai
Answer: (C) Bhairav Chakravarty
32. After a moment of silence, what gentle question did Bonku Babu pose to the group?
(A) “Do you think such satellites can see us?”
(B) “Suppose… suppose they came here?” (referring to aliens)
(C) “Will we ever be able to build such things?”
(D) “Is it safe to have these things flying above us?”
Answer: (B) “Suppose… suppose they came here?” (referring to aliens)
33. How did Nidhu Babu react to Bonku Babu’s question about aliens coming to Kankurgachhi?
(A) With thoughtful consideration.
(B) With feigned total amazement.
(C) With genuine curiosity.
(D) With agreement.
Answer: (B) With feigned total amazement.
34. Who slapped Bonku Babu’s back loudly and rudely, mocking his suggestion about aliens landing in Kankurgachhi?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Chandi Babu
(C) Bhairav Chakravarty
(D) Nidhu Babu
Answer: (C) Bhairav Chakravarty
35. What was Sripati Babu’s “knowledgeable” opinion on where aliens would land if they came to Earth?
(A) They would land in a remote, uninhabited area.
(B) They would land in a major city like Calcutta.
(C) They would land in some western country, where all the sahibs live.
(D) They would land in Kankurgachhi because it’s a quiet place.
Answer: (C) They would land in some western country, where all the sahibs live.
36. Who was the only person who did not agree with Sripati Babu’s opinion about where aliens would land?
(A) Ramkanai
(B) Chandi Babu
(C) Nidhu Babu
(D) Bonku Babu
Answer: (D) Bonku Babu
37. Who innocently suggested that aliens might want to come to a place with a man like Bonkubihari if they wanted a human specimen?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Bhairav Chakravarty
(C) Chandi Babu
(D) Ramkanai
Answer: (C) Chandi Babu
38. Who agreed that Bonkum would be the ideal specimen, considering his looks and brains?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Nidhu Babu
(C) Ramkanai
(D) Bhairav Chakravarty
Answer: (B) Nidhu Babu
39. Who chipped in that Bonku Babu would be suitable for keeping in a museum or a zoo?
(A) Chandi Babu
(B) Nidhu Babu
(C) Ramkanai
(D) Sripati Babu
Answer: (C) Ramkanai
40. Silently, Bonku Babu compared Sripati Babu’s chin to that of a…?
(A) Horse
(B) Goat
(C) Camel
(D) Tortoise
Answer: (C) Camel
41. In Bonku Babu’s silent thoughts, Bhairav Chakravarty’s eyes were like the eyes of a…?
(A) Rat
(B) Tortoise
(C) Flittermouse
(D) Goat
Answer: (B) Tortoise
42. How did Bonku Babu mentally describe Nidhu Babu’s appearance?
(A) Like a goat
(B) Like a flittermouse
(C) Like a camel
(D) Like a rat
Answer: (D) Like a rat
43. What was Ramkanai’s warning to Bonku Babu as he was leaving the meeting?
(A) “Don’t be late for the next meeting.”
(B) “Take care, it’s a moonless night and auspicious for ghosts.”
(C) “Remember to bring snacks next time.”
(D) “Don’t tell anyone about our conversation.”
Answer: (B) “Take care, it’s a moonless night and auspicious for ghosts.”
44. Why was Bonku Babu not carrying a torch or a lantern while walking home?
(A) He had forgotten it at home.
(B) His lantern was broken.
(C) It was too cold for snakes, and he knew the way well.
(D) He enjoyed walking in the dark.
Answer: (C) It was too cold for snakes, and he knew the way well.
45. What unusual thing did Bonku Babu realize about the crickets as he walked home?
(A) They were chirping louder than usual.
(B) They were silent.
(C) There were more crickets than usual.
(D) They seemed to be following him.
Answer: (B) They were silent.
46. Where did Bonku Babu see the glowing pink light?
(A) In Sripati Babu’s garden.
(B) In the school playground.
(C) In Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove, near a small pond.
(D) On the main road leading to his house.
Answer: (C) In Poncha Ghosh’s bamboo grove, near a small pond.
47. What did Bonku Babu initially think the glowing pink light was?
(A) A reflection from the moon.
(B) A fire.
(C) A group of fireflies.
(D) A lantern left by someone.
Answer: (B) A fire.
48. What physical sensation did Bonku Babu experience as he got closer to the light, causing him to break out in goose pimples?
(A) A sudden drop in temperature.
(B) A strong, unpleasant smell.
(C) His ears began ringing with a long, steady humming noise.
(D) The ground began to shake.
Answer: (C) His ears began ringing with a long, steady humming noise.
49. What did the object that came into view look like?
(A) A large, metallic disc.
(B) A giant glass bowl turned upside-down.
(C) A tall, glowing tower.
(D) A shimmering, formless cloud.
Answer: (B) A giant glass bowl turned upside-down.
50. What happened to Bonku Babu when he took a few steps to get a better look at the object?
(A) He tripped and fell.
(B) He felt an electric current pass through his body and became immobile.
(C) The object suddenly disappeared.
(D) A door opened in the object.
Answer: (B) He felt an electric current pass through his body and became immobile.
51. What did Bonku Babu observe about the object a few moments after he became immobile?
(A) It started to spin rapidly.
(B) It changed color from pink to blue.
(C) It gradually stopped ‘breathing’.
(D) It emitted a loud siren.
Answer: (C) It gradually stopped ‘breathing’.
52. What were the first words spoken by the extraordinarily thin voice that shattered the silence?
(A) “Greetings, Earthling!”
(B) “Do not be afraid.”
(C) “Milipiping kruk! Milipiping kruk!”
(D) “Who goes there?”
Answer: (C) “Milipiping kruk! Milipiping kruk!”
53. What language did the voice first use to ask Bonku Babu, “Who are you? Who are you?”
(A) Bengali
(B) Hindi
(C) English
(D) An unknown alien language
Answer: (C) English
54. How did Bonku Babu identify himself to the voice?
(A) “I am a teacher from Kankurgachhi.”
(B) “I am Bonkubihari Datta, sir.”
(C) “I am a resident of this village.”
(D) “I mean no harm.”
Answer: (B) “I am Bonkubihari Datta, sir.”
55. When the voice asked, “Are you English?”, what was Bonku Babu’s reply?
(A) “Yes, sir! An English teacher.”
(B) “No, sir! Bengali, sir. A Bengali, sir.”
(C) “I speak a little English, sir.”
(D) “I am Indian, sir.”
Answer: (B) “No, sir! Bengali, sir. A Bengali, sir.”
56. What word did the voice speak clearly after a short pause, to which Bonku Babu returned the greeting?
(A) “Hello!”
(B) “Welcome!”
(C) “Namaskar!”
(D) “Shanti!”
Answer: (C) “Namaskar!”
57. What happened to Bonku Babu immediately after he returned the greeting “Namaskar!”?
(A) He fainted from shock.
(B) The voice disappeared.
(C) The invisible bonds holding him disappeared, and he was free to move.
(D) The object started to glow brighter.
Answer: (C) The invisible bonds holding him disappeared, and he was free to move.
58. What did Bonku Babu see happening to a portion of the glass mound?
(A) It shattered into pieces.
(B) It lifted off the ground.
(C) It was sliding to one side, opening out like a door.
(D) It became transparent.
Answer: (C) It was sliding to one side, opening out like a door.
59. Describe the head of the creature that emerged from the object.
(A) Large and hairy with pointed ears.
(B) Like a plain, smooth ball.
(C) Triangular with multiple eyes.
(D) Covered in scales.
Answer: (B) Like a plain, smooth ball.
60. What covered the creature’s body, with the exception of its head?
(A) Green scales
(B) Brown fur
(C) A shiny, pink outfit
(D) Nothing, it was bare.
Answer: (C) A shiny, pink outfit
61. What did the creature have instead of ears?
(A) Large, feathery antennae.
(B) Nothing, its head was completely smooth.
(C) Tiny holes on each side of its head.
(D) Small, pointed flaps of skin.
Answer: (C) Tiny holes on each side of its head.
62. What features were on the creature’s face where a nose and mouth should have been?
(A) A single slit for both.
(B) Two holes for a nose and a gaping hole for a mouth.
(C) A trunk-like appendage.
(D) No discernible features, just smooth skin.
Answer: (B) Two holes for a nose and a gaping hole for a mouth.
63. What color were the creature’s round eyes, which appeared to be glowing in the dark?
(A) Bright red
(B) Deep blue
(C) Bright yellow
(D) Pitch black
Answer: (C) Bright yellow
64. What did Bonku Babu automatically do when the creature stopped a few feet away and gave him a steady, unblinking stare?
(A) He screamed for help.
(B) He tried to run away.
(C) He found himself folding his hands.
(D) He fainted.
Answer: (C) He found himself folding his hands.
65. What was the first question the creature asked Bonku Babu in its flute-like voice, after staring at him for nearly a minute?
(A) “What planet is this?”
(B) “Are you human?”
(C) “Why are you here?”
(D) “Can you understand me?”
Answer: (B) “Are you human?”
66. Where was Ang, the alien, originally supposed to go before landing on Earth?
(A) Mars
(B) Jupiter
(C) Pluto
(D) Venus
Answer: (C) Pluto
67. Why did Ang speak to Bonku Babu first in the language used on Pluto?
(A) It was the universal language.
(B) He wasn’t sure where he had landed.
(C) He wanted to test Bonku Babu’s intelligence.
(D) It was the only language his translator was set to.
Answer: (B) He wasn’t sure where he had landed.
68. What did Ang do to Bonku Babu that made him feel quite uncomfortable?
(A) Ang stared at him without blinking.
(B) Ang asked too many personal questions.
(C) Ang reached out and examined Bonku Babu’s arms and legs with its long, bony fingers.
(D) Ang spoke in a very loud voice.
Answer: (C) Ang reached out and examined Bonku Babu’s arms and legs with its long, bony fingers.
69. From which planet did Ang claim to be?
(A) Mars
(B) Craneus
(C) Pluto
(D) Jupiter
Answer: (B) Craneus
70. How did Ang describe itself in relation to man?
(A) A slightly more evolved being.
(B) An equal but different species.
(C) A far superior being than man.
(D) A less developed but curious being.
Answer: (C) A far superior being than man.
71. What was Bonku Babu’s initial reaction to Ang’s claim of superiority, considering Ang’s appearance?
(A) He was terrified.
(B) He nearly burst out laughing.
(C) He was deeply impressed.
(D) He felt insulted.
Answer: (B) He nearly burst out laughing.
72. How many languages did Ang claim to know?
(A) 1,400
(B) 14,000
(C) 140
(D) 140,000
Answer: (B) 14,000
73. How many languages spoken on planets outside our solar system did Ang know?
(A) Twenty-one
(B) Thirty-one
(C) Forty-one
(D) Fifty-one
Answer: (B) Thirty-one
74. How many planets outside our solar system had Ang visited?
(A) Fifteen
(B) Twenty
(C) Twenty-five
(D) Thirty
Answer: (C) Twenty-five
75. What was Bonku Babu’s age?
(A) Forty
(B) Fifty
(C) Sixty
(D) Forty-five
Answer: (B) Fifty
76. What was Ang’s age?
(A) 388 years
(B) 833 years
(C) 83 years
(D) 1833 years
Answer: (B) 833 years
77. What did Ang reveal about its species’ past dietary habits?
(A) They were always vegetarian.
(B) They used to eat plants and insects.
(C) They used to eat the flesh of most creatures, and Ang might have eaten Bonku Babu.
(D) They survived on minerals and sunlight.
Answer: (C) They used to eat the flesh of most creatures, and Ang might have eaten Bonku Babu.
78. What did the small object Ang offered Bonku Babu to look at resemble?
(A) A crystal
(B) A coin
(C) A pebble
(D) A button
Answer: (C) A pebble
79. What sensation did Bonku Babu feel when he touched the pebble-like object?
(A) Intense cold
(B) Intense heat
(C) The same electric current as before
(D) A tingling sensation
Answer: (C) The same electric current as before
80. According to Ang, why was Bonku Babu unable to move an inch a little while ago?
(A) Because Ang had used a paralyzing ray.
(B) Because Bonku Babu was too scared to move.
(C) Because Ang had the pebble-like device in its hand, which could make an enemy powerless.
(D) Because Ang had cast a spell on him.
Answer: (C) Because Ang had the pebble-like device in its hand, which could make an enemy powerless.
81. What question did Ang ask Bonku Babu after demonstrating the power of the small object?
(A) “Do you wish to have such power?”
(B) “Is there any place that you have wished to visit, or a scene that you have longed to see, but never could?”
(C) “Are you convinced of my superiority now?”
(D) “Would you like to travel with me to Craneus?”
Answer: (B) “Is there any place that you have wished to visit, or a scene that you have longed to see, but never could?”
82. Which of these places had Bonku Babu, a geography teacher, NOT seen in Bengal itself?
(A) The snow-capped Himalayas
(B) The seashore in Digha
(C) The Sunderbans
(D) The Howrah Bridge
Answer: (D) The Howrah Bridge
83. What specific place did Bonku Babu admit to Ang he would most like to visit?
(A) The Amazon rainforest
(B) The Sahara Desert
(C) The North Pole
(D) The moon
Answer: (C) The North Pole
84. What did Ang take out to show Bonku Babu the North Pole?
(A) A crystal ball
(B) A pair of special goggles
(C) A small tube, one end of which was covered by a piece of glass
(D) A miniature holographic projector
Answer: (C) A small tube, one end of which was covered by a piece of glass
85. What phenomenon did Bonku Babu see in the sky above the snowy expanse when looking through Ang’s device at the North Pole?
(A) A solar eclipse
(B) The Aurora Borealis
(C) A meteor shower
(D) A flock of migrating birds
Answer: (B) The Aurora Borealis
86. What animals were fighting in the vision of the North Pole that Bonku Babu saw?
(A) Polar bears
(B) Arctic foxes
(C) Walruses
(D) Seals
Answer: (C) Walruses
87. What did Bonku Babu remember instantly when Ang asked if he wished to go to Brazil?
(A) The Amazon river
(B) Carnival in Rio
(C) Piranhas, the deadly carnivorous fish
(D) Coffee plantations
Answer: (C) Piranhas, the deadly carnivorous fish
88. What giant snake did Bonku Babu see hanging from a branch in the dense forest vision of Brazil?
(A) Python
(B) Boa constrictor
(C) Anaconda
(D) King Cobra
Answer: (C) Anaconda
89. What happened to the crocodile that jumped out of the water in the vision of Brazil?
(A) It caught a large fish.
(B) It was attacked by an anaconda.
(C) Virtually no flesh was left on its belly, bones showing, attacked by piranhas.
(D) It sunbathed on the bank.
Answer: (C) Virtually no flesh was left on its belly, bones showing, attacked by piranhas.
90. How did Bonku Babu feel after watching the piranhas attack the crocodile?
(A) Excited and thrilled.
(B) His limbs were trembling, and his head reeled painfully.
(C) Curious to see more.
(D) Indifferent to the sight.
Answer: (B) His limbs were trembling, and his head reeled painfully.
91. After showing Bonku Babu the visions, what did Ang want to know if Bonku Babu now believed?
(A) That space travel was possible.
(B) That Ang was friendly.
(C) That Ang’s species was superior.
(D) That Earth was a beautiful planet.
Answer: (C) That Ang’s species was superior.
92. According to Ang, what was Bonku Babu’s major fault?
(A) He was not intelligent enough.
(B) He was too curious for his own good.
(C) He was much too meek and mild.
(D) He talked too much.
Answer: (C) He was much too meek and mild.
93. What advice did Ang give Bonku Babu regarding injustice?
(A) To ignore it and maintain peace.
(B) To report it to the authorities.
(C) To always speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurts or insults him without provocation.
(D) To seek revenge quietly.
Answer: (C) To always speak up against injustice and protest if anyone hurts or insults him without provocation.
94. How quickly did Ang depart after finishing its conversation with Bonku Babu?
(A) It took several minutes to prepare the spaceship.
(B) In less than a second, almost before Bonku Babu could grasp what was happening.
(C) After a formal farewell ceremony.
(D) The next morning.
Answer: (B) In less than a second, almost before Bonku Babu could grasp what was happening.
95. What did Bonku Babu realize had started chirping again after Ang vanished?
(A) The birds
(B) The crickets
(C) The frogs
(D) The cicadas
Answer: (B) The crickets
96. What realization made Bonku Babu feel unique in the whole wide world after his encounter with Ang?
(A) That he was the only one who knew about Ang’s visit.
(B) That he had been chosen for a special mission.
(C) That he, Bonkubihari Datta, a village school teacher, had this wonderful experience.
(D) That he now possessed secret knowledge about the universe.
Answer: (C) That he, Bonkubihari Datta, a village school teacher, had this wonderful experience.
97. How did Bonku Babu feel as he resumed walking towards his home after Ang left?
(A) Terrified and confused.
(B) Sad that Ang had left so soon.
(C) With a spring in every step, actually dancing.
(D) Exhausted and wanting to sleep.
Answer: (C) With a spring in every step, actually dancing.
98. What was reported in the local paper the next day, a Sunday?
(A) Bonku Babu’s encounter with an alien.
(B) A detailed account of the spaceship landing.
(C) A small report about a strange light seen by a handful of people in two places in Bengal.
(D) Sripati Majumdar’s weekend gathering.
Answer: (C) A small report about a strange light seen by a handful of people in two places in Bengal.
99. What unusual occurrence was Poncha Ghosh talking about at Sripati Babu’s meeting that Sunday?
(A) The strange light he had also seen.
(B) All the bamboos around the pond in his grove had lost all their leaves overnight.
(C) His pond had mysteriously dried up.
(D) He had found strange footprints in his bamboo grove.
Answer: (B) All the bamboos around the pond in his grove had lost all their leaves overnight.
100. Who first noticed Bonku Babu’s absence at the Sunday meeting and asked why he was so late?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Nidhu Babu
(C) Ramkanai
(D) Bhairav Chakravarty
Answer: (D) Bhairav Chakravarty
101. Who suggested that “Bunkum” wouldn’t show his face after getting an earful the previous day?
(A) Sripati Babu
(B) Chandi Babu
(C) Nidhu Babu
(D) Ramkanai
Answer: (C) Nidhu Babu
102. How is Bonku Babu’s entrance into the room at Sripati Babu’s house described?
(A) He quietly slipped in unnoticed.
(B) He knocked politely and waited to be invited in.
(C) As if a small hurricane swept inside in the guise of a short, dark man.
(D) He stumbled in, looking disheveled.
Answer: (C) As if a small hurricane swept inside in the guise of a short, dark man.
103. What did Bonku Babu do for a whole minute upon entering the room, something no one had heard him do before?
(A) He delivered an eloquent speech.
(B) He burst into a guffaw and laughed uproariously.
(C) He started singing loudly.
(D) He remained completely silent, staring at everyone.
Answer: (B) He burst into a guffaw and laughed uproariously.
104. What was the first “truth” Bonku Babu told the group at Sripati Babu’s house?
(A) That he had met an alien.
(B) That this was the last time they would see him at their meetings.
(C) That he was no longer afraid of them.
(D) That he was resigning from his teaching job.
Answer: (B) That this was the last time they would see him at their meetings.
105. According to Bonku Babu’s speech, who talks of things they don’t know anything about?
(A) Students
(B) Villagers
(C) Idiots
(D) Foreigners
Answer: (C) Idiots
106. What did Bonku Babu accuse Chandi Babu of doing, calling it “totally stupid and wrong”?
(A) Spreading false rumors.
(B) Cheating at cards.
(C) Hiding other people’s shoes and umbrellas.
(D) Making fun of his appearance.
Answer: (C) Hiding other people’s shoes and umbrellas.
107. What did Bonku Babu demand Chandi Babu return to his house the next day?
(A) His walking stick and hat.
(B) His books and papers.
(C) His umbrella and brown canvas shoes.
(D) His teacup and saucer.
Answer: (C) His umbrella and brown canvas shoes.
108. What did Bonku Babu say he would call Nidhu Babu if Nidhu Babu called him “Bunkum”?
(A) Fool
(B) Ignoramus
(C) Nitwit
(D) Rascal
Answer: (C) Nitwit
109. What did Bonku Babu offer to send to Sripati Babu, saying it was “quite good at licking feet,” implying Sripati Babu needed sycophants?
(A) His dog
(B) His cat
(C) A new servant
(D) A pair of shoes
Answer: (B) His cat
110. What did Bonku Babu inform Poncha Babu and everyone else about what happened the previous night?
(A) That he had seen a very bright shooting star.
(B) That an Ang from the planet Craneus had landed on the pond in Poncha Babu’s bamboo grove.
(C) That he had decided to leave the village.
(D) That the strange light was just a reflection.
Answer: (B) That an Ang from the planet Craneus had landed on the pond in Poncha Babu’s bamboo grove.
111. How did Bonku Babu describe the Ang he met?
(A) As very frightening.
(B) As most amiable.
(C) As demanding and rude.
(D) As silent and observant.
Answer: (B) As most amiable.
112. What did Bonku Babu do to Bhairav Chakravarty immediately after finishing his speech?
(A) He shook his hand.
(B) He ignored him.
(C) He slapped Bhairav’s back so hard that he choked.
(D) He apologized for his earlier rudeness.
Answer: (C) He slapped Bhairav’s back so hard that he choked.
113. How did Bonku Babu make his exit from Sripati Babu’s house?
(A) He slipped away quietly.
(B) He was thrown out by the angry group.
(C) Striding out with a bounce and a whistle, his eyes sparkling, his head held high.
(D) He left looking sad and regretful.
Answer: (C) Striding out with a bounce and a whistle, his eyes sparkling, his head held high.
114. What happened to Ramkanai’s teacup in the instant Bonku Babu finished his speech and slapped Bhairav’s back?
(A) He calmly placed it on the table.
(B) It fell from his hand, shattering and splattering hot tea.
(C) He offered it to Bonku Babu.
(D) He quickly drank the tea.
Answer: (B) It fell from his hand, shattering and splattering hot tea.
115. What was the name of the Russian satellite mentioned in the story?
(A) Sputnik
(B) Vostok
(C) Khotka or Phoska
(D) Soyuz
Answer: (C) Khotka or Phoska
116. What did Bonku Babu think about the other men at Sripati’s gathering when they called him an ideal specimen for aliens?
(A) He agreed that he was unique.
(B) He felt flattered by the attention.
(C) He wondered silently if the others weren’t just as suitable, comparing them to animals.
(D) He decided to prove them wrong by showing his intelligence.
Answer: (C) He wondered silently if the others weren’t just as suitable, comparing them to animals.
117. What was the specific reason Bonku Babu wanted to visit the North Pole?
(A) To see the polar bears.
(B) To experience the Aurora Borealis.
(C) Because he came from a warm country.
(D) To conduct geographical research.
Answer: (C) Because he came from a warm country.
118. Ang stated, “To take things quietly is wrong, not just for man, but for any creature anywhere.” This statement implies:
(A) One should always be aggressive.
(B) Silence is a sign of weakness.
(C) It is important to stand up against unfair treatment.
(D) Animals also experience injustice.
Answer: (C) It is important to stand up against unfair treatment.
119. The transformation in Bonku Babu’s character can be best attributed to:
(A) His long-suppressed anger finally erupting.
(B) The empowering advice and validation he received from Ang.
(C) A desire to impress the villagers.
(D) A sudden surge of courage after seeing the spaceship.
Answer: (B) The empowering advice and validation he received from Ang.
120. The “spook” incident where Bonku Babu was attacked under the tamarind tree was likely orchestrated by:
(A) Real ghosts.
(B) His students as a prank.
(C) Someone at Sripati Babu’s meeting.
(D) A misunderstanding in the dark.
Answer: (C) Someone at Sripati Babu’s meeting.
MCQs: Competency Based
1. Select the option that lists the events in their correct order.
I. A giant, translucent dome opens to reveal a strange creature.
II. A moving point of pink light is seen above a bamboo grove at night.
III. Bonku Babu is attacked by a figure disguised as a ghost.
IV. Bonku Babu boldly rebukes his acquaintances at a gathering.
(a) II, III, I, IV
(b) III, II, I, IV
(c) II, I, III, IV
(d) III, I, II, IV
Answer: (a) II, III, I, IV.
2. Select the option that gives true character traits of Bonku Babu.
I. Meek
II. Thoughtful storyteller
III. Resentful
IV. Docile
V. Adventurous
VI. Assertive
(a) I, III, IV
(b) I, II, IV
(c) II, V, VI
(d) II, IV, VI
Answer: (b) I, II, IV.
3. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the two statements.
- Bonku Babu never protested when the students played pranks on him.
- He feared losing his job and believed there were a few worthwhile pupils in each class.
(a) 1 is independent of 2.
(b) 1 is an example of 2.
(c) 1 is the cause of 2.
(d) 1 is the result of 2.
Answer: (d) 1 is the result of 2.
4. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
- Bonku Babu leaves the gathering early.
- He notices that the crickets have fallen silent.
- He encounters a glowing, pink dome beside a pond.
- He hears a humming noise and feels his limbs become immobile.
(a) 2, 1, 3, 4
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4
(c) 2, 3, 4, 1
(d) 3, 2, 1, 4
Answer: (c) 2, 3, 4, 1.
5. Which of the following is NOT true about Ang, the visitor from another world?
(a) He can speak over fourteen thousand languages.
(b) He accidentally landed on Earth while heading for Pluto.
(c) He is only four feet tall and covered in fur.
(d) He knows every language in the solar system.
Answer: (c) He is only four feet tall and covered in fur.
6. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the statements.
- Ang demonstrates to Bonku Babu how a small device can render an enemy powerless.
- Ang wants Bonku Babu to see distant places on Earth through a special tube.
(a) 1 is the cause of 2.
(b) 1 is independent of 2.
(c) 2 is an example of 1.
(d) 2 is the result of 1.
Answer: (b) 1 is independent of 2.
7. Select the option that gives true character traits of Ang.
I. Inquisitive
II. Arrogant about his own abilities
III. Compassionate toward Bonku Babu
IV. Easily frightened
V. Knows thousands of languages
VI. Dismissive of human progress
(a) II, IV, V
(b) I, II, III, V
(c) II, V, VI
(d) I, III, V, VI
Answer: (c) II, V, VI.
8. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
- Bonku Babu watches a scene of polar bears and walruses through a tube.
- The alien inquires if this planet is Earth.
- Bonku Babu explains that he knows Bengali, English, and a little Hindi.
- Ang confirms that his instruments failed and he thought he had reached Pluto.
(a) 2, 3, 4, 1
(b) 2, 4, 3, 1
(c) 4, 2, 3, 1
(d) 2, 3, 1, 4
Answer: (b) 2, 4, 3, 1.
9. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the statements.
- Bonku Babu always remained calm when pranks were played on him at school.
- He feared that losing his position after losing his temper would leave him unable to find another job.
(a) 1 is an example of 2.
(b) 1 is independent of 2.
(c) 1 is the cause of 2.
(d) 1 is the result of 2.
Answer: (d) 1 is the result of 2.
10. Which of the following best describes the tone when Ang says, “My instruments are not working properly. I was supposed to go to Pluto”?
(a) Frustrated
(b) Matter-of-fact
(c) Nostalgic
(d) Mocking
Answer: (b) Matter-of-fact.
11. Select the option that lists the events in their correct order.
I. Bonku Babu returns to the meeting and addresses everyone with bold criticism.
II. Bonku Babu is overwhelmed by messages about piranhas and anacondas seen through a tube.
III. Bonku Babu is examined by a creature with long, bony fingers.
IV. Bonku Babu first spots a moving point of light in the northern sky.
(a) IV, III, II, I
(b) III, IV, II, I
(c) IV, II, III, I
(d) IV, III, I, II
Answer: (a) IV, III, II, I.
12. Which of the following is NOT a reason why Bonku Babu continued visiting Sripati Majumdar’s evening gatherings?
(a) He believed Sripati Babu would think poorly of him otherwise.
(b) He was grateful for the amusement he provided to Sripati’s friends.
(c) He feared he could not afford to lose a connection with an influential man.
(d) He enjoyed the company and lively discussion each weekend.
Answer: (d) He enjoyed the company and lively discussion each weekend.
13. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
- Bonku Babu feels as though his limbs have been tied by an invisible force.
- He spots a dull, pink glow illuminating leaves and branches.
- He recalls feeling uneasy because the night was unusually silent.
- He hears a steady humming sound that seems to come from all around.
(a) 3, 2, 4, 1
(b) 2, 3, 4, 1
(c) 3, 2, 1, 4
(d) 4, 3, 2, 1
Answer: (a) 3, 2, 4, 1.
14. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the statements.
- Bonku Babu laughed uproariously for a full minute after confronting his acquaintances.
- The hot tea spilled from Ramkanai’s cup and shattered on the floor.
(a) 1 is the cause of 2.
(b) 1 is independent of 2.
(c) 2 is a result of 1.
(d) 2 is an example of 1.
Answer: (c) 2 is a result of 1.
15. Which of the following statements about the strange dome beside the pond is FALSE?
(a) It emitted a gentle, pink light that made plants glow.
(b) It rose and fell as though it were breathing.
(c) It completely covered the pond like a glass bowl turned upside-down.
(d) It vanished without a trace the moment Bonku Babu arrived.
Answer: (d) It vanished without a trace the moment Bonku Babu arrived.
16. Select the option that gives true character traits of Sripati Majumdar’s circle of friends.
I. Mocking
II. Supportive
III. Condescending
IV. Sycophantic toward power
V. Generous toward Bonku Babu
(a) I, III, IV
(b) I, II, IV
(c) II, IV, V
(d) II, III, V
Answer: (a) I, III, IV.
17. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
- Bonku Babu describes to Ang the places he has longed to see but never visited.
- Through a tube, Bonku Babu beholds anacondas and piranhas in Brazil.
- Ang demonstrates a device that can immobilise anyone without harm.
- Bonku Babu expresses a desire to visit the North Pole.
(a) 4, 3, 1, 2
(b) 4, 1, 3, 2
(c) 3, 4, 1, 2
(d) 1, 4, 3, 2
Answer: (b) 4, 1, 3, 2.
18. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the two statements.
- Bonku Babu finally speaks up against the disrespect he endured from his friends.
- Ang advises him never to tolerate insults without protest.
(a) 1 is independent of 2.
(b) 1 is a result of 2.
(c) 1 is an example of 2.
(d) 1 is a cause of 2.
Answer: (b) 1 is a result of 2.
19. Which of the following is NOT true about Bonku Babu’s teaching career?
(a) He taught geography and Bengali for over two decades.
(b) He believed a handful of good students made his work worthwhile.
(c) He never regarded storytelling as part of his teaching.
(d) He often invited top pupils to his home for snacks and tales of far-off places.
Answer: (c) He never regarded storytelling as part of his teaching.
20. Select the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
- Bonku Babu declares at the gathering that it will be his last visit.
- He chuckles at his own newfound confidence before departing.
- He describes how an alien named Ang arrived from another planet.
- He slaps one acquaintance’s back so hard that tea splatters.
(a) 1, 3, 2, 4
(b) 1, 4, 3, 2
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4, 2
Answer: (d) 1, 3, 4, 2.
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