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The Rice Cakes: BSEM Class 9 English questions, answers
Get summary, workbook solutions, questions, answers, notes, pdf, and extras to the story “The Rice Cakes” by P. Aung Khim which is a part of Class 9 English syllabus for students studying under the Manipur Board (BSEM).
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
The play opens on a quiet morning in a small Burmese village, with birds chirping outside a simple bamboo-walled house. Inside, 8-year-old Ko Ko yawns and stretches after his parents have left for the fields, leaving him in charge. Opening the meat-safe cupboard, he happily discovers his favourite treat – four scrumptious rice cakes – that his mother has left for his breakfast. Gleefully rubbing his stomach at the prospect of enjoying them all himself, he brings them over to the low table.
Just as he is about to take the first coveted bite, there comes a loud knock at the door from his friend Nyi Nyi. Wanting to hide the cakes and prevent Nyi Nyi from sharing them, Ko Ko hurriedly conceals the plate behind the radio on the meat-safe. He lets Nyi Nyi in, who reveals he came to listen to a radio announcement about an important exam. Ko Ko lies that the radio is broken to keep Nyi Nyi away from discovering the hidden cakes. This leads Nyi Nyi to go somewhere else to listen to the radio. After getting rid of him, Ko Ko brings out the plate again in anticipation.
Ko Ko has barely picked up a cake when another knock comes, this time from his young friend Mi Mi. Knowing her appetite for rice cakes, he hastily hides the plate in an empty pink flower vase on the meat safe before letting her in. Mi Mi reveals she brought four hot banana fritters to share with the rice cakes (she learned about the rice cakes from Ko Ko’s mother), making Ko Ko regret his lie to Nyi Nyi earlier that he had already eaten them. As Mi Mi starts to eat the fritters, Ko Ko’s hungry stomach betrays him by growling loudly, despite his attempts to pass it off as a rat’s noise.
Next, their friend Tin Soe joins them, bearing a gift of flowers for Ko Ko’s mother’s new vase. Not wanting Tin Soe to take the vase holding the hidden cakes, Ko Ko spins another lie that his mother is allergic to those flowers. But before Tin Soe can take the flowers back, the People’s Shop manager, U Ba Tun, arrives.
He has come to exchange Ko Ko’s mother’s pink vase for the blue one she wanted. To Ko Ko’s utter dismay, U Ba Tun picks up the vase with the rice cakes and leaves the blue one behind, as Ko Ko helplessly watches his precious cakes disappear, all thanks to his initial small lie that snowballed into the loss of his coveted treat.
The moral is that lies complicate situations, and honesty pays dividends. Through the humorous situation, the play highlights how even harmless lies can quickly escalate and cost us dearly.
Textual notes
Comprehension
(A) Based on your reading of the play complete the following statements
(a) Seeing the rice cakes for breakfast Ko Ko was thrilled thinking that he was going to _________________________________
Answer: have a good feed.
(b) Nyi Nyi came to Ko Ko’s place because he wanted to hear on the radio _________________________________
Answer: an important announcement about their exam.
(c) To keep the rice cakes away from Mi Mi Ko Ko hid ________
Answer: them in an empty flower vase.
(d) Commenting on the banana fritter that he had eaten uncle U Ba Tan said _________________________________
Answer: that it was the best banana fritter he ever tasted.
(B) Answer the following questions in a sentence each
(a) What had happened to Nyi Nyi’s radio?
Answer: Nyi Nyi’s radio was out of order.
(b) Why did Ko Ko take some time in opening the door for Mi Mi?
Answer: Ko Ko took some time in opening the door for Mi Mi because he was hiding the rice cakes.
(c) Why did Ko Ko not want Mi Mi to put the aster flowers in the vase?
Answer: Ko Ko did not want Mi Mi to put the aster flowers in the vase because he had hidden the rice cakes in it.
(d) The visitors often heard a growling sound which they thought was made by a rat. What was it actually?
Answer: The growling sound was actually Ko Ko’s stomach growling with hunger.
(C) Answer the following questions briefly
(a) How did Ko Ko get rid of Nyi Nyi?
Answer: Ko Ko got rid of Nyi Nyi by lying that their radio was also out of order, prompting Nyi Nyi to leave to listen to an important announcement elsewhere.
(b) What lie did Ko Ko tell to Mi Mi for his delay in opening the door?
Answer: Ko Ko lied to Mi Mi that the delay in opening the door was because he had just finished his breakfast and was rinsing his mouth.
(c) “Yes good luck for you but bad luck for me.” Why does Ko Ko say so?
Answer: Ko Ko says this because while Tin Soe was lucky to get to eat the banana fritters, it was bad luck for Ko Ko as he couldn’t eat them due to his lie about being too full.
(d) Why did U Ba Tun visit Ko Ko’s place?
Answer: U Ba Tun visited Ko Ko’s place to exchange a flower vase. He brought a blue vase to replace the pink one Ko Ko’s mother had bought, as she initially wanted a blue vase.
(e) ‘……… Goodbye RICE CAKES.’ Why did Ko Ko say so?
Answer: Ko Ko said “Goodbye RICE CAKES” because the rice cakes he had hidden in the pink vase were taken away unknowingly by U Ba Tun when he exchanged it for the blue vase.
(D) Answer the following questions in about 80 words
(i) “Oh how I have to lie to save my rice cakes!” said Ko Ko. Write how Ko Ko had to lie for his rice cakes?
Answer: Ko Ko had to fabricate multiple lies to protect his rice cakes. Initially, he lied to Nyi Nyi about their radio being out of order to prevent him from discovering the hidden cakes. Then, he deceived Mi Mi by claiming he had already eaten all the cakes and was too full for her banana fritters. He further lied about being allergic to aster flowers to prevent Mi Mi from discovering the cakes hidden in the vase. His series of lies were all to keep his coveted rice cakes to himself.
(ii) Bring out the moral of the story.
Answer: The moral of the story is that greed and dishonesty can lead to unfortunate consequences. Ko Ko’s continuous lying to protect his rice cakes ultimately resulted in him missing out on both the cakes and the banana fritters. His deceit not only deprived him of a shared joy with his friends but also left him hungry and unsatisfied. The story highlights the importance of honesty and the negative impacts of selfishness and deceit.
Think and Answer
(a) Suppose Ko Ko had not lied when Nyi Nyi came. What would have been the sequence of events? Discuss in your group for presentation to the whole class.
Answer: If Ko Ko had not lied to Nyi Nyi, the sequence of events would have been different. Nyi Nyi would have stayed to listen to the radio, possibly sharing the rice cakes with Ko Ko. This would have created a friendly atmosphere, fostering sharing and camaraderie. The lies Ko Ko told later to Mi Mi and others wouldn’t have been necessary, leading to a more honest and open interaction with his friends. The story would then focus on friendship and sharing rather than deceit and the consequences of lying.
(b) Here is a list of the events that had happened in Ko Ko’s house that morning. But they are not in their proper sequence. Arrange them in their proper sequence.
Answer: The correct sequence of events in Ko Ko’s house that morning is: (i) Ko Ko is about to eat breakfast, (ii) Nyi Nyi comes and knocks at the door, (iii) Ko Ko hides rice cakes behind the radio, (iv) Mi Mi comes and knocks at the door, (v) Ko Ko hides his rice cakes in the vase, (vi) Tin Soe comes bringing some asters, (vii) Ko Ko tells his mother is allergic to aster, and (viii) U Ba Tun turns up. This sequence showcases the progression of Ko Ko’s actions and the successive arrivals of his friends, leading to the culmination of the story.
Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks in each of the following sentences with the words given in the box :
| allergy, glutton, rash, rinse, delicious, vase, growling |
I. After you eat your meal ____ your mouth.
Answer: rinse
II. The oranges of Tamenglong taste _______.
Answer: delicious
III. Can you hear how the tigers are _____.
Answer: growling
IV. A _____ is sure to end up in shame.
Answer: glutton
V. Something must be wrong with the man. His body is covered with _____.
Answer: rash
VI. If you eat or touch something that does not suit you, you may have _____.
Answer: allergy
VII. I want to buy a flower _____ for my mother.
Answer: vase
Extra MCQs
1. What was Ko Ko’s reaction on seeing the rice cakes for breakfast?
A. He was unhappy B. He was thrilled C. He was worried D. He was confused
Answer: B. He was thrilled
2. Why did Nyi Nyi come to Ko Ko’s house?
A. To have breakfast B. To listen to the radio C. To get rice cakes D. To meet Ko Ko
Answer: B. To listen to the radio
3. Where did Ko Ko hide the rice cakes when Nyi Nyi came?
A. In the vase B. Behind the curtains C. Behind the radio D. Under the table
Answer: C. Behind the radio
4. Why did Mi Mi bring banana fritters to Ko Ko’s house?
A. To have with rice cakes B. As a gift for Ko Ko’s mother C. Because Ko Ko asked her to get them D. To eat them all by herself
Answer: A. To have with rice cakes
5. Where did Ko Ko hide the rice cakes when Mi Mi came?
A. In the vase B. Under the table C. Behind the curtains D. Outside the house
Answer: A. In the vase
6. What lie did Ko Ko tell Mi Mi about his stomach?
A. That it was paining badly B. That it was too full after the rice cakes he ate C. That he was hungry and wanted something to eat D. That his stomach had shrunk after overeating
Answer: B. That it was too full after the rice cakes he ate
7. What was the purpose of Tin Soe bringing aster flowers?
A. As a gift for Ko Ko B. For Mi Mi who liked flowers C. For decorating Ko Ko’s mother’s new vase D. To take home and plant in his garden
Answer: C. For decorating Ko Ko’s mother’s new vase
8. Why did Ko Ko give the excuse that his mother was allergic to aster flowers?
A. Because he disliked the flowers B. So that Mi Mi would not go near the vase C. Because the flowers would not fit in the vase D. To avoid putting them in the meat-safe
Answer: B. So that Mi Mi would not go near the vase
9. Why did U Ba Tun come to Ko Ko’s house?
A. To meet Ko Ko B. To join them for breakfast C. To exchange the pink flower vase with a blue one D. To take back the pink flower vase
Answer: C. To exchange the pink flower vase with a blue one
10. What was Ko Ko afraid would happen if Mi Mi put flowers in the vase?
A. His mother would get angry B. The flowers would get spoiled C. His rice cakes would be discovered D. Mi Mi would take the rice cakes
Answer: C. His rice cakes would be discovered
11. Why did Ko Ko have to lie repeatedly to his friends?
A. To avoid sharing his rice cakes B. Because he didn’t like them C. To test their trust in him D. For his own entertainment
Answer: A. To avoid sharing his rice cakes
12. What excuse did Ko Ko give for the growling noises heard by the visitors?
A. It was the radio malfunctioning B. It was a big rat making the noises C. It was his empty stomach D. Someone outside was creating the noises
Answer: B. It was a big rat making the noises
13. Why was Mi Mi eager to share her banana fritters with Ko Ko?
A. Because she was very hungry B. As she wanted to eat Ko Ko’s rice cakes too C. As she liked spending time with Ko Ko D. Since Ko Ko had praised her fritters earlier
Answer: B. As she wanted to eat Ko Ko’s rice cakes too
14. Why was Ko Ko hesitant to let Mi Mi decorate the flower vase?
A. He disliked flower decorations B. The vase was brand new C. It would expose his hidden rice cakes D. His mother disliked flowers in vases
Answer: C. It would expose his hidden rice cakes
15. How did Ko Ko manage to repeatedly send away the visitors who came to his house?
A. By offering them rice cakes and tea B. Through polite conversation C. By lying to them D. With his mother’s help
Answer: C. By lying to them
16. What is the main moral of the story?
A. Do not be greedy B. Save food for later C. Welcome guests warmly D. Share your belongings
Answer: A. Do not be greedy
Extra Questions and Answers
1. Why did Ko Ko hide the rice cakes from his friends?
Answer: Ko Ko hid the rice cakes from his friends because he wanted to eat all of them himself and did not want to share them with anyone.
2. How did Nyi Nyi plan to listen to the announcement about the exam?
Answer: Nyi Nyi planned to listen to the announcement about the exam on Ko Ko’s radio since his own radio at home was out of order.
3. What excuse did Ko Ko give about the radio when Nyi Nyi asked for it?
Answer: When Nyi Nyi asked for the radio, Ko Ko gave the excuse that there was something wrong with their radio too.
4. Where did Ko Ko hide the rice cakes when Mi Mi arrived?
Answer: When Mi Mi arrived, Ko Ko hid the rice cakes inside an empty flower vase so that she would not find them.
5. Why did Mi Mi get banana fritters for Ko Ko?
Answer: Mi Mi got banana fritters to share with the rice cakes she expected Ko Ko to have so they could have a good feed together.
6. How did Ko Ko stop Mi Mi from putting flowers in the vase?
Answer: Ko Ko stopped Mi Mi from putting flowers in the vase by lying and saying that his mother was allergic to those kinds of flowers.
7. What was the real source of the growling noises heard by the visitors?
Answer: The real source of the growling noises heard by the visitors was Ko Ko’s empty stomach, indicating his hunger.
8. Why did U Ba Tun visit Ko Ko’s house that day?
Answer: U Ba Tun visited Ko Ko’s house to exchange the pink flower vase bought by Ko Ko’s mother with a blue one she wanted.
9. What lesson can we learn from the story?
Answer: We can learn from the story that greed makes people act in dishonest ways, so we should avoid it.
10. Why did Ko Ko have to repeatedly lie to all his friends who visited him that morning?
Answer: Ko Ko had to repeatedly lie to all his friends – Nyi Nyi, Mi Mi, and Tin Soe—because he wanted to eat all four rice cakes himself and did not want to share them with anyone. He lied about finishing breakfast, about the radio not working, about hiding the rice cakes, etc., to ensure no one asked for the rice cakes.
11. How did Ko Ko manage to fool Nyi Nyi about the rice cakes and send him away?
Answer: When Nyi Nyi came asking for the radio to listen to the announcement, Ko Ko lied that their radio was also not working and scared Nyi Nyi by saying he would get an electric shock if he touched it. This way, he managed to fool Nyi Nyi and make him go to Tin Soe’s house instead.
12. What tactics did Ko Ko use to hide the rice cakes from Mi Mi?
Answer: When Mi Mi came with banana fritters to share, Ko Ko lied that he had already finished all the rice cakes because he was too full. When she heard his stomach growling, he blamed it on a rat making noises. Then, when she was about to put flowers in the vase, he stopped her, saying his mother was allergic to those flowers, to prevent the rice cakes from being discovered.
13. Why did Ko Ko have to tell lies about his mother’s flower allergy and a rat making noises?
Answer: Ko Ko had to invent lies about his mother’s flower allergy to stop Mi Mi from decorating the vase in which he had hidden the rice cakes. He had to blame the growling noises from his empty stomach on a rat so that Mi Mi would not realise he was actually still hungry.
14. Why do you think Ko Ko’s friends believed his lies instead of doubting him?
Answer: Ko Ko’s friends were shown to be kind-hearted and trusting people who did not expect Ko Ko to be lying to them. Also, Ko Ko managed to come up with convincing lies, covering up well, so though some, like Tin Soe, seemed doubtful, they did not question much.
15. Analyse the sequence of events that take place, revealing how Ko Ko had to lie to hide his rice cakes from each visitor.
Answer: First, when Nyi Nyi came to listen to the announcement, Ko Ko hid the rice cakes behind the radio and lied that their radio was also not working to shoo him away. Next for Mi Mi, he moved the cakes to hide in the vase and lied, saying he’d eaten them all and was too full. He also invented the mother’s flower allergy lie when the vase was in danger of being exposed. Finally, with Uncle U Ba Tun, Ko Ko let him take the vase silently while feeling his lies cost him the rice cakes.
16. Discuss how Ko Ko’s lies and behaviour ultimately led to an unpleasant outcome for himself.
Answer: Ko Ko kept all the rice cakes to himself due to greed and lied repeatedly to hide them, losing moral values and friends’ trust. His impatience and anxiety to eat the cakes made him behave oddly, arousing some suspicion. Also, his lies became more elaborate, and eventually he had to helplessly watch the rice cakes disappear with U Ba Tun replacing the vase. His greed for more made him lose the food itself, teaching that dishonesty for selfish motives backfires.
17. What kind of person do you think Ko Ko was? What could he have done differently in this situation, in your opinion?
Answer: Ko Ko seems to be a selfish child who does not want to share his food even with close friends. While natural to some extent for a child, his elaborate lies show his willingness to disregard relationships for greed. Instead of valuing friends, he risked losing trust through lies. He could have been more generous, enjoying the cakes with friends. Even if he ate first, he could have apologised politely later. Honesty and consideration for others are important qualities he failed at.
