A Short Monsoon Diary

Easy (15)

1. What is the primary subject of Ruskin Bond's diary entries in 'A Short Monsoon Diary'?
   • His daily adventures in the city
   • Observations of the monsoon in the hills (correct)
   • Stories about his friends and family
   • Recipes for monsoon snacks

   Why: The diary entries primarily focus on the author's observations of the monsoon season in the hills.

2. What happens to the birds as the monsoon mist comes climbing up the hill on June 24?
   • They sing louder
   • They fly away to warmer places
   • They fall silent (correct)
   • They build new nests

   Why: On June 24, the author notes that all the birds fall silent as the mist arrives.

3. What is a 'cobra lily' mentioned in the diary?
   • A type of snake
   • A flowering plant (correct)
   • A kind of insect
   • A mountain peak

   Why: The cobra lily is described as a plant that rears its head from the ferns.

4. What animal lifted a dog from near the servants' quarter on June 27?
   • A wolf
   • A bear
   • A leopard (correct)
   • A tiger

   Why: The diary entry for June 27 mentions a leopard lifting a dog.

5. What sound does the rain make on the corrugated tin roof on August 2?
   • Whistling
   • Drumming (correct)
   • Hissing
   • Splashing

   Why: The rain is described as 'drumming' on the tin roof.

6. What type of bird is a 'scarlet minivet'?
   • A large predatory bird
   • A bright red bird like a cuckoo (correct)
   • A small brown bird
   • A water bird

   Why: The text defines a scarlet minivet as a bright red bird similar to a cuckoo.

7. What does the author hear emerging from the depths of the ravine on August 3?
   • The roar of a leopard
   • The song of the whistling thrush (correct)
   • The sound of a waterfall
   • The cries of Bijju

   Why: On August 3, the song of the whistling thrush is heard from the ravine.

8. What signifies that the rains are coming to an end on August 31?
   • The birds start singing loudly
   • The seeds of the cobra lily turn red (correct)
   • The mist becomes thicker
   • The leopard returns to the village

   Why: The turning red of cobra lily seeds indicates the end of the monsoon.

9. True or False: The mist makes the hills appear more cheerful.

   Why: The author describes the mist as making the hills melancholy.

10. True or False: Leeches are considered a welcome arrival during the monsoon by the author.

    Why: The author mentions getting used to 'bloodletting' from leeches, implying they are not welcome.

11. True or False: The author considers the sound of rain on a tin roof to be unpleasant for reading.

    Why: The author finds the sound of rain on the tin roof a 'good sound to read by'.

12. The mist on June 24 not only conceals the hills but also blankets them in ______.

    Why: The mist brings silence along with concealment.

13. Snakes and rodents take shelter in roofs, attics, and godowns because their holes and burrows are ______.

    Why: Animals seek higher ground when their homes are flooded.

14. Identify the plant that appears first during the early monsoon rain.
    • Wild balsam
    • Cobra lily (correct)
    • Dahlia
    • Ground orchid

    Why: The cobra lily is mentioned as the first plant to appear with the early monsoon.

15. Which bird is known for flitting silently among leaves like brilliant jewels, as described in the chapter?
    • Crow
    • Drongo
    • Scarlet minivet (correct)
    • Whistling thrush

    Why: Scarlet minivets are described as flitting like brilliant jewels.

Medium (15)

1. Why does the author call the mist 'melancholy'?
   • Because it brings cold weather
   • Because it conceals the hills and blankets them in silence (correct)
   • Because it makes the birds sing louder
   • Because it signifies the end of summer

   Why: The mist creates a sad atmosphere by hiding the hills and silencing the birds.

2. What is the author's feeling towards the rain drumming on the tin roof?
   • Annoyed and restless
   • Comforted and reflective (correct)
   • Scared and anxious
   • Indifferent and bored

   Why: The author finds the rain sound comforting, helping him stay awake yet not preventing sleep.

3. Why do drongos chase minivets away?
   • Because minivets steal their food
   • Because drongos are unnecessarily aggressive (correct)
   • Because minivets are too brightly colored
   • Because drongos are protecting their nests

   Why: The text explicitly states drongos are 'unnecessarily aggressive'.

4. What does the phrase 'A paradise that might have been' imply about the hill station and valley?
   • It is currently a perfect paradise.
   • It was once a paradise but has lost some of its charm. (correct)
   • It has the potential to become a paradise in the future.
   • It is a paradise that is difficult to reach.

   Why: The phrase suggests a past ideal state that has diminished.

5. Match the animal with its characteristic sound or action during the monsoon.

   Why: Each animal's action or sound is directly mentioned in the diary entries.

6. Match the month with the significant event described in the diary.

   Why: Each month marks a distinct phase of the weather or a specific event.

7. Match the plant with its description or location.

   Why: The chapter describes specific characteristics and locations for these monsoon plants.

8. Match the term with its meaning as used in the chapter.

   Why: These are direct definitions provided in the chapter's glossary notes.

9. What is the name of the author of 'A Short Monsoon Diary'?

   Why: Ruskin Bond is the renowned author of the diary extracts.

10. What is the Hindi equivalent for 'shrew' mentioned in the chapter?

    Why: The chapter itself provides 'Chuchundar' as the Hindi equivalent for shrew.

11. What type of bird is a 'drongo'?

    Why: A drongo is defined as a song-bird with a stout bill.

12. Arrange the following events in the order they occur in the diary entries:

    Why: The events follow the chronological order of the diary entries.

13. Sequence the appearance of these flowers as the monsoon progresses towards its end.

    Why: These flowers are listed in the order they appear in the August 12 entry.

14. Which of these flowers is NOT mentioned as appearing on the grassy slopes of Landour?
    • Mauve lady's slipper
    • White butterfly orchids
    • Wild balsam (correct)
    • Ground orchids

    Why: Wild balsam is mentioned earlier, not specifically on the Landour slopes with the others.

15. Identify the bird that is described as 'unnecessarily aggressive' and chases minivets away.
    • Crow
    • Drongo (correct)
    • Minivet
    • Thrush

    Why: Drongos are explicitly called 'unnecessarily aggressive' in the text.

Hard (10)

1. Assertion (A): The author feels untouched by the rain even when it's drumming on his tin roof. Reason (R): The tin roof provides a physical barrier, keeping him dry, while the sound allows him to feel connected to the rain.

   Why: The reason accurately explains how the tin roof provides both separation and connection to the rain.

2. Assertion (A): The forest becomes 'deathly still' when the monsoon mist arrives. Reason (R): The mist conceals the hills and causes all the birds to fall silent.

   Why: The mist's effect on visibility and birdsong directly leads to the forest's stillness.

3. Assertion (A): The grandmother advises against killing the shrew (Chuchundar). Reason (R): Shrews are considered lucky and believed to bring money.

   Why: The grandmother's advice is based on the superstition that shrews bring good fortune.

4. A group of students is discussing the changes in flora and fauna during the monsoon as described in the diary. Student A says that minivets are easily noticed due to their bright colours. Student B argues that minivets can sometimes go unnoticed despite their colours. Which student is correct, and why?
   • Student A is correct because the chapter describes minivets as brilliant jewels.
   • Student B is correct because the chapter states they can go unnoticed by remaining silent. (correct)
   • Both A and B are incorrect as minivets are always hidden by leaves.
   • Both A and B are correct, but for different reasons not mentioned in the text.

   Why: Minivets are brightly colored but can avoid detection by staying silent, as stated in the text.

5. The author describes the period of 'endless rain' in August. If a person were to experience this, which of the following would be a likely consequence, based on the diary entry?
   • A feeling of excitement and joy due to the continuous rain.
   • A sense of confinement and dampness, leading to pacing indoors. (correct)
   • An urge to go out and explore the lush green hills.
   • A desire to start gardening and planting new flowers.

   Why: The author describes feeling confined and damp during endless rain, leading to indoor pacing.

6. A tourist asks the author to describe the hill station and valley in one sentence. The author replies, 'A paradise that might have been.' What does this response primarily convey?
   • The place is still a perfect paradise, just hard to describe.
   • The place was once idyllic but has suffered some degradation or loss. (correct)
   • The author is being sarcastic about the beauty of the place.
   • The place is a paradise that exists only in his imagination.

   Why: The phrase 'might have been' suggests a past ideal that is no longer fully present.

7. Which image best represents the 'scarlet minivets' described in the chapter?
   • Image A (Scarlet Minivet) (correct)
   • Image B (Crow)
   • Image C (Drongo)
   • Image D (Whistling Thrush)

   Why: Scarlet minivets are described as bright red birds, and the image shows a bird matching this description.

8. Which of the following images corresponds to the 'cobra lily' whose seeds turn red at the end of the monsoon?
   • Image A (Cobra Lily) (correct)
   • Image B (Wild Balsam)
   • Image C (Dahlia)
   • Image D (Ground Orchid)

   Why: The cobra lily is a distinctive plant with a hood-like spathe, as shown in Image A.

9. Which two of the following statements about the monsoon season, as described by Ruskin Bond, are correct?
   • The mist makes the hills appear more vibrant and lively.
   • The arrival of the monsoon heralds new visitors like leopards and leeches. (correct)
   • The sound of rain on the tin roof is generally soothing and conducive to reading. (correct)
   • Winter rains are typically accompanied by heavy snowfall at lower altitudes.

   Why: The mist makes hills melancholy, and snowfall is at higher altitudes, but new visitors and soothing rain sounds are correct.

10. Based on the diary entries, which two of the following observations indicate the approaching end of the monsoon season?
    • The appearance of wild balsam and dahlias.
    • The seeds of the cobra lily turning red. (correct)
    • Ferns starting to turn yellow. (correct)
    • The continuous drumming of rain on tin roofs.

    Why: Red cobra lily seeds and yellowing ferns are specific indicators of monsoon's end.