THE ADVENTURES OF TOTO - Q&A

THINK ABOUT IT

1. How does Toto come to grandfather's private zoo?
Answer:
Grandfather was an animal lover who had his own private zoo. He saw Toto with a tonga-driver. The tonga-driver used to keep the little red monkey tied to a feeding trough. Grandfather felt that the monkey looked very out of place there. So, he decided to buy him and add him to his collection. He bought Toto from the tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees.

2. "Toto was a pretty monkey." In what sense is Toto pretty?
Answer:
Toto is described as "pretty" not in a delicate way, but because of his vivid and expressive features:
1. Eyes: He had bright eyes that sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows.
2. Teeth: His teeth were pearly white, which he often displayed in a smile.
3. Fingers: His fingers were quick and wicked.
4. Tail: He had a long tail which served as a third hand, adding to his good looks according to Grandfather.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
Answer:
Why: Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to collect his pension. He decided to take Toto along because Toto was very mischievous and would not allow the other pets (a tortoise, rabbits, a squirrel, and a goat) to sleep at night if left behind.

How: Grandfather put Toto in a big black canvas kit-bag with some straw at the bottom. The bag was closed so Toto could not escape or bite through it.

The Ticket Collector: The ticket collector insisted on calling Toto a dog because the railway rules likely did not have a specific category for monkeys to fix the fare. To charge Grandfather for the animal, the collector categorized Toto as a "dog," which was the closest classification for a four-legged pet.

4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Answer:
The Bath: Toto takes a bath by first cunningly testing the temperature of the water with his hand. Then, he gradually steps into the bath, one foot at a time, until he is neck-deep in water. He then rubs himself all over with soap.

Learnt From: He learnt to do this by watching the author (the narrator) take baths.

Boiling Incident: One day, a large kitchen kettle was left on the fire to boil for tea. Toto removed the lid and, finding the water warm enough, climbed in. As the water began to boil, it became too hot. He tried to hop out but found it cold outside, so he sat back down. He kept hopping up and down until Grandmother arrived and hauled him out, half-boiled.

5. Why does the author say, "Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long"?
Answer:
The author says this because Toto was extremely mischievous and destructive. He frequently tore clothes, curtains, and wallpaper, and broke dishes. In the final incident, he broke a large dish of pullao into pieces. The family was not well-to-do and could not afford the frequent loss of household items. Therefore, they realized they could not keep him as a pet for long.

TALK ABOUT IT

1. Do you have a pet? Talk about it.
Answer:
(This is a self-attempt question. Here is a sample answer you can use):
Yes, I have a pet dog named Bruno. He is a Golden Retriever. Unlike Toto, Bruno is very gentle and obedient. He loves to play fetch with a ball and waits for me when I come back from school. He does not break things or tear clothes like Toto; instead, he guards our house and is a loyal friend to my entire family.