A Day in the ZooClass 9 extracted from “Menagerie Manor” by Gerald Durrell is a nice description of a day in the zoo which is included in the syllabus under WBBSE in Bliss: English textbook for Class IX.
A Day in the Zoo Class 9 Exercises Questions and Answers have been discussed with Bengali Meaning and extra Questions and Answers. All the exercises with extra questions and answers from this extract have been provided in the following.
Gerald Malcolm Durrell, author of A Day in the Zoo Class 9
Gerald Malcolm Durrell (1925 -1995) was an English zookeeper, conservationist, and author. He is perhaps best remembered for writing several books based on his life as an animal enthusiast. He founded the ‘Jersey Zoo’ (now ‘Durrell Wildlife Park’) on the Channel Island of Jersey in 1958.
About the Text: A Day in the Zoo
The following passage , “A Day in the Zoo” is an extract from Menagerie Manor by Gerald Durrell. The extract describes a typical day in the zoo and the experience of the zoo-workers and offers us an interesting insider’s view of the zoo.This text also makes us aware of the life of innocent animals in the zoo. They should be left undisturbed and allowed to live a carefree life.
Read: English Textbook [Bliss] solution Class 9 All Chapters
All the important and difficult Word Notes for A Day in the Zoo has been given with English and Bengali meaning.
Observe – notice লক্ষ করল
Tinged – glowed উজ্জ্বল
Rich – splendid চমৎকার
Hoarse – husky কর্কশ
Touracos – a species of bird originally from South Africa সাউথ আফ্রিকার এক ধরনের প্রজাতির পাখি
Earnest – intent অত্যন্ত আগ্রহী
Dewy – full of dew শিশির
Peahen – the female peafowl ময়ূরী
Burnished – polished চকচকে পালিশের মত
Fountain – waterfall ঝরনা
Mammals –warm blooded animals স্তন্যপায়ী প্রাণী
Gallop – go or move very fast ঘোড়ার মত দ্রুত বেগে চলে যাওয়া
Wrench – twist মুচড়িয়ে দেওয়া
Fluorescent – producing bright light উজ্জ্বল আলো
Ape – an animal like monkey বানর
Sawdust – powdery particles of wood কাঠের গুঁড়ো
Bustle – move in a noisy excited manner প্রচন্ড হৈচৈ করা
Baring – opening খুলে দেখানো
Cacophony – a mixture of loud unpleasant sound উচ্চ অস্বস্তিকর শব্দের মিশ্রণ
Patter – to run with short quick steps ছোট ও দ্রুত বেগে চলে যাওয়া
Armadillo – a mammal with claws found in America আমেরিকার এক ধরনের নখ বিশিষ্ট স্তন্যপায়ী প্রাণী
Peers – look with rapt attention গভীর মনোযোগ সহকারে তাকানো
Husky – deep, quiet, and rough sound অত্যন্ত আস্তে কর্কশ শব্দ
Reptile – a cold blooded vertebrate animals সরীসৃপ জাতীয় প্রাণী
Doze – sleep slightly for short time ঝিমানো
Lidless – without any movable cover of the eye পলকহীন
Prod – push with a stick লাঠি দিয়ে খোঁচা দেওয়া
Uncivilized- barbaric অসভ্য মূলক কাজ
Slanting – not straight বাঁকা বা তীর্যক
Rockery – a garden full of rock পাথুরে
Chorus – doing something together সমবেত চিৎকার
Straw – stems of wheat or other grain plants.ঘর
A Day in the Zoo Class 9, Exercise questions with Answers:
All Textual Exercise Questions and Answers from A Day in the Zoo of class 9 have been discussed in the following.
Exercise 1
Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives:
1. The average day in a zoo begins just before
(a) dusk
(b) dawn
(c) afternoon
(d) evening
Ans : (b)dawn
2. The birds searching the dewy grass on the lawn were
(a) peahens
(b) peacocks
(c) robins
(d) thrushes
Ans : (a)peahens
3. Stephen with a broom in his hand was guarding over the
(a) bears
(b) gorilla
(c) apes
(d) armadillo
Ans : (c)apes
4. The name of the black Celebes ape was
(a) Etam
(b) Jeremy
(c) Mike
(d) Stephen
Ans : (a)Etam
5.The reptiles dozed in the temperature of
(a) sixty degrees
(b) seventy degrees
(c) eighty degrees
(d) ninety degrees.
Ans : (c)eighty degrees
Exercise 2
Answer the following questions within fifteen words:
(1) How does the sky look as one is awakened by the birdsong?
Ans :The sky appears to be tinged with yellow, when one is awakened by the bird song at down.
(2) How do the parrots and parakeets salute the people?
Ans :The parrots and parakeets salute people with a cacophony of sounds.
(3) What do all the animals do at the start of a new day?
Ans : All the animals, excited and eager at the start of a new day, bustle about the cages.
(4) As the light fades, where does the robin fly off to?
Ans : As the light fades, the robin flies off to roost in the mimosa tree.
Exercise 3
Answer the following questions within twenty-five words:
(1) What work do Jeremy and Mike do in the gorillas’ cages?
Ans : Mike and Jeremy are both busy inside the Gorilla’s cages. They sweep up the mess on the floor, scatter fresh white sawdust and assure that everything is all right.
(2) Describe the state of the frogs and snakes in the reptile house.
Ans : In the reptile house the temperature is eighty degrees. Snakes look at someone calmly with lidless eyes. Frogs make gulping sounds.
(3) What would one see and hear while lying in bed at night?
Ans : While lying in bed at night one would see the moon separating itself from the shadow of the trees. One would hear the lions coughing.
Grammar in use in the chapter A Day in the Zoo:
Exercise 4
Classify the underlined adverbs according to their functions in the chart given below:
(a) I have already done the job.
(b) Bappa can go anywhere for his work.
(c) Puja often comes to my place.
(d) Nargis sings sweetly.
Functions of adverbs
Manner
Time
Place
Frequency
sweetly
often
anywhere
already
Exercise 5
Underline the clauses in the following sentences and state what kind of clauses they are:
(a) As he was not there, I spoke to his brother.
Ans : As he was not there – Subordinate Adverbial Clause
I spoke to his brother – Principle Clause / Main Clause
(b) The house where Nazrul was born is in Churulia.
Ans : where Nazrul was born– Subordinate Adjective Clause / Relative Clause
The house is in Churulia – Principle Clause / Main Clause
Read more:
Principal Clause or Main Clause or Independent Clause :
Subordinate Clause or Dependent Clause :
(c) She said that she would return soon.
Ans : that she would return soon – Subordinate Noun Clause / Nominal Clause
She said – Principle Clause / Main Clause
(d) Have you read the book which you borrowed from me?
Ans : which you borrowed from me – Subordinate Adjective Clause / Relative
Have you read the book – Principle Clause / Main Clause
Exercise 6
Identify the following sentences as simple, complex or compound sentence:
(i) He is too tired to walk alone.
Ans : This sentence has one subject (He) , one Predicate (is too tired to walk alone) and one finite Verb (is). So, it is a Simple Sentence.
(ii) I have a friend who lives in Mumbai.
Ans : This sentence has one Principle Clause(I have a friend) and one Subordinate Clause(who lives in Mumbai). So, it is a complex sentence.
(iii) Priyam wrote a letter but he got no reply.
Ans : This sentence has two principle clauses and they are joined by conjunction (but). So, it is a compound sentence.
Read more:
Simple Sentence
Complex Sentence
Compound Sentence
(iv) Being ill, I could not attend school.
Ans: This sentence has one subject (I) , one Predicate (Being ill,could not attend school) and one finite Verb (attend). So, it is a Simple Sentence.
(v) She told me that she would enter a house which is believed to be haunted.
Ans: This sentence has one Principle Clause(She told me) and two dependant Clauses(she would enter a house and which is believed to be haunted). So, it is a complex sentence.
(vi) The sun shines brightly and the flowers bloom.
Ans: This sentence has two principle clauses and they are joined by conjunction (and). So, it is a compound sentence.
Textual writing from A Day in the Zoo Class 9
Exercise 7
Write a letter to the Headmaster/Headmistress of your school within 100 words seeking leave for three days to visit your ailing grandmother.
A Day in the Zoo Class 9 Extra Questions and Answers:
Extra Important Question Answers from A Day in the Zoo has been discussed below .
A. Tick the correct answer from the given alternatives:
(1) At dawn, you can hear the song of
(a) a touracos
(b) a robin
(c) a blackbird
(d) a peahen.
Ans : (a)a touracos
(2) The cries of the touracos are
(a) rich
(b) fruity
(c) slightly hoarse
(d) rich, fruity, and slightly hoarse.
Ans : (c)slightly hoarse
(3) The white-headed thrush bursts into
(a) a hoarse cry
(b) a delightful cry
(c) a cacophony
(d) an excited cry
Ans : (d)an excited cry
(4) A male peahen dances
(a) in the twilight
(b) in the sunlight
(c) in the moonlight
(d) in broad daylight
Ans : (b)in the sunlight
(5) The tail of a peahen is raised like a –
(a) mountain
(b) pillar
(c) fountain
(d) flag.
Ans : (c) fountain
(6)The zoo staff arrives at –
(a) 8 pm
(b) 8 am
(c) 10 am
(d) 10 pm
Ans : (b)8 am
(7)The zoo staff shout greetings –
(a) to each other
(b) to the animals
(c) to the birds
(d) to the visitors
Ans : (a)to each other
(8)The arrival of zoo staff is accompanied by sounds of
(a) buckets and brushes
(b) chains and shackles
(c) birds and animals
(d) horns and trumpets.
Ans : (a)buckets and brushes
(9) The monkeys and mammals live in a –
(a) marble house
(b) red stone house
(c) granite house
(d) sandstone house
Ans : (c)granite house
(10) When the cages are cleaned –
(a) the touracos are let out
(b) the parakeets are let out
(c) the reptiles are let out
(d) the gorillas are let out.
Ans : (d)the gorillas are let out.
(11)The gorillas gallop about on the floor with the high spirits of children –
(a) inside the park
(b) just in school
(c) just out of school
(d) in the playground
Ans : (c)just out of school
(12) Being excited, gorillas try to wrench –
(a) electric heaters
(b) water pipes
(c) cage door
(d) zookeeper
Ans : (a)electric heaters
(12)The gorillas try to break the –
(a) tube lights
(b) fluorescent lights
(c) bulbs
(d) streetlights.
Ans : (b)fluorescent lights
(13) Mike is a zoo staff who is –
(a) lean and clumsy
(b) always grumbling
(c) plump and lazy
(d) plump and ever smiling.
Ans : (d)plump and ever smiling.
(14) Jeremy cleans the cage of –
(a) toucans
(b) lizards.
(c) ape
(d) gorilla
Ans : (d) gorilla
(15)They sweep up the mess on the floor and scatter –
(d) phenyl.
(a) disinfectant
(c) saw dust
(b) dust
Ans : (c)saw dust
(16) The parrots and parakeets are kept in the –
(a) downstairs of the granite house
(b) attic of the granite house
(c) upstairs of the granite house
(d) basement of the granite house
Ans : (c)upstairs of the granite house
(17) Cacophony means –
(a) soft sound
(b) loud sound
(c) hoarse
(d) a mixture of loud unpleasant sound.
Ans : (d)a mixture of loud unpleasant sound.
(18) Suku, the grey parrot cries –
(a) ‘Good morning everybody’
(b) ‘I’m a very beautiful bird’.
(c) ‘I’m a very fine bird
(d) “Welcome to all’
Ans : (c)‘I’m a very fine bird
(19) The mongooses are
(a) quick-footed and bright eyed
(b) twitching their nose
(c) strolling lazily
(d) sleeping quietly
Ans : (a)quick-footed and bright eyed
(20) Armadillo is a –
(a) fish
(b) mammal
(c) reptile
(d) amphibian.
Ans : (b)mammal
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(1) An average zoo day begins just before dawn.
(2) The burnished tail of peahen is raised like a fountain in the sunlight.
(3) The zoo staff shout greetings to each other.
(4) They sweep up the mess on the floor and scatter fresh white sawdust.
(5) The parrots and parakeets salute you with a cacophony of sounds.
(6) The hairy armadillo lies on its back paws and nose twitching.
(7) In a pleasant temperature of eighty degrees the reptiles doze.
(8) We have found visitors trying to give the chimpanzees Lighte cigarettes and razor blades.
(9) The slanting rays of the sun light the cage where the crowned pigeons live.
(10) As you lie in bed, you watch through the window the moon separating itself from the shadow of the trees.
C. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences / phrases / Words in support of your answer :
(1) Being an owner of the zoo, you can rush out at any hour of the day to observe animals. False
Supporting answer : “It certainly enables you to rush out any hour of the day or night to observe the animals.”
(2) The average zoo day begins just after dawn. False
Supporting answer : “The average zoo day begins just before dawn.”
(3) The white-headed thrush bursts into a cry excitedly. True
Supporting answer : “The white-headed thrush bursts into at an excited cry.”
(4) The monkeys and mammals live in the marble house. False
Supporting answer : “The monkeys and other mammals livein the long, two-storied granite house.”
(5) Inside the gorillas’ cage Mike is busy with Stephen who has a broom in hand. False
Supporting answer : “Inside the gorillas’ cage Mike, plump and ever-smiling, is busy along with Jeremy.”
(6) The bright-eyed mongooses gallop around their cages. False
Supporting answer : “The bright-eyed mongoose’s patter busily around their cages.”
(7) The human beings always behave in a civilized manner. False
Supporting answer : “The uncivilized behaviour of some human beings in a zoo has to be seen to be believed.”
(8) The chimpanzees quarrel for the possession of straw. True
Supporting answer : “You know they are quarrelling over who should have the straw.”
(9) The air rings with the song of the birds in the morning. False
Supporting answer : “Soon it will be dawn and the chorus of birds will take over; the cold morning air will ring with song.”
D. Answer the following questions
(1) When and how does an average zoo day begin?
Ans :The average zoo day begins just before dawn. The sky is slightly yellow coloured, and one is awakened by songs of robin & cries of touracos, blackbird and thrush.
(2) Describe the activity of peahens.
Ans :On the velvet green lawns of the courtyard peahens search for food in the dewy grass. A male peahen dances with his burnished tail risen like a fountain in the sunlight.
(3) How do the zoo staff start their work?
Ans :The zoo staff shout greetings to each other as they start their daily job. They become very busy with their buckets and brushes in cleaning the cages of animals.
(4) What work do Jeremy and Mike do in the gorillas’ cages?
Ans :Mike and Jeremy sweep up the mess on the floor of the gorilla’s cage. They also scatter fresh white sawdust there.
(5) How do the gorillas behave when they are let out of their cages?
Ans :The gorillas gallop about on the floor like high spirited children just out of school. They try to twist the electric heaters from their sockets or break the fluorescent lights.
(6) What are the sounds heard at eight o’clock in the morning?
Ans :Eight o’clock in the morning one can hear the zoo staff shout greetings to each other. Sounds made by their buckets and brushes are also heard.
(7) How do the parakeets, parrots and the armadillo behave at the start of a new day?
Ans :The parrots and parakeets start their day with cacophony of sounds. The hairy armadillo lies on its back with its paws and nose twitching.
(8) Why do the zoo staff become alert when the visitors arrive?
Ans :The zoo staff become alert to ensure that the visitors do not hurt the animals. The uncivilized behaviour of human being cause a threat to the lives of the innocent animals.
(9) How do the visitors disturb and irritate the zoo animals?
Ans :When an animal is asleep, people throw stones at it or prod it with sticks to move it. They even try to give the chimpanzees lighted cigarettes and razor blades.
(10) What lesson do you learn from the passage A Day in the Zoo?’
Ans :The author Gerald Durrell intends to make us aware of the life of innocent animals in the zoo. They should be left undisturbed and allowed to live a carefree life.
