UP Board Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8 Solutions – Kathmandu

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Chapter 8 of the UP Board Class 9 English Beehive book – “Kathmandu,” takes readers on a journey to Nepal’s capital city. The chapter is written by Vikram Seth, a famous Indian author. He shares his experiences visiting two important temples in Kathmandu. One is the Pashupatinath temple, which is very special to Hindus. The other is the Baudhnath temple, which is important for Buddhists. Through Seth’s eyes, we get to see the sights, sounds, and feel of this interesting city.

UP Board Class 9 English Beehive chapter 8

UP Board Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8 Solutions

SubjectEnglish (Beehive)
Class9th
Chapter8. Kathmandu
AuthorVikram Seth
BoardUP Board

Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.

1 . Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.

Ans. The author visited two temples in Kathmandu: the Pashupatinath temple and the Baudhnath stupa.

2 . The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca Cola.” What does ‘all this’ refer to?

Ans. ‘All this’ refers to the food and reading materials the author consumed: a marzipan bar, roasted corn-on-the-cob, love story comics, and a Reader’s Digest.

3 . What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?

Ans. Vikram Seth compares the many flutes (bansuris) sticking out from a flute seller’s pole to a porcupine’s quills

4 . Name five kinds of flutes.

Ans. Five kinds of flutes mentioned are the reed neh, recorder, Japanese shakuhachi, Hindustani bansuri, and Chinese flutes.

II. Answer each question in a short paragraph

1 . What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?

Ans. The author notes that the flute seller is quieter than other hawkers. Instead of shouting to advertise his wares, he simply plays his flutes slowly and calmly. This creates a peaceful atmosphere around him, unlike the noisy approach of other sellers.

2 . What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?

Ans. At Pashupatinath, there’s a belief about a small shrine on the river bank. People think that when this shrine fully emerges from the platform, the goddess inside will escape. This event is said to mark the end of Kaliyug, which is considered an evil period on Earth.

3 . The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of

(i) the atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath (for example: some people trying to get the priest’s attention are elbowed aside…)
(ii) the things he sees
(iii) the sounds he hears

Ans.

(i) The atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ is shown through:

  • People elbowing each other to get the priest’s attention
  • Saffron-clad Westerners struggling to enter the main gate
  • A fight breaking out between two monkeys

(ii) Things the author sees include:

  • The Baudhnath Stupa with its large white dome
  • Small shops selling felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewelry
  • Fruit sellers, flute sellers, and shops selling various goods

(iii) Sounds the author hears are:

  • Film songs from radios
  • Car horns and bicycle bells
  • Vendors shouting to sell their wares

III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100 − 150 words each

1 . Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupathinath temple.

Ans. The Pashupatinath temple and the Baudhnath shrine have very different atmospheres. At Pashupatinath, there’s a lot of chaos and noise. Priests, hawkers, tourists, and animals like cows and monkeys crowd the area. People push and elbow each other to get the priest’s attention, and there’s a constant buzz of activity. In contrast, the Baudhnath stupa is much calmer. It’s described as a haven of quietness in the busy streets around it. There are fewer people, and the atmosphere is more peaceful and still. This difference shows how religious sites can have very different environments, even in the same city.

2 . How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?

Ans. Kathmandu’s busiest streets are a mix of traditional and modern elements. The author describes narrow streets lined with small shrines and flower-adorned deities. These streets are bustling with activity, filled with various sellers offering fruits, flutes, postcards, and a mix of local and Western goods. The air is filled with sounds from different sources: film songs from radios, car horns, bicycle bells, and vendors shouting about their products. One interesting detail is a flute seller, whose instrument pole stands out among the chaos. The author paints a picture of a lively, colorful, and noisy urban environment where old and new, local and foreign elements blend together.

3 . “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?

Ans. The author believes flute music connects all of humanity for several reasons. Firstly, flutes are found in cultures all around the world, making them a universal instrument. While each type of flute might have its own specific design and playing technique, they all share a fundamental similarity: they produce music through human breath. This direct connection between the player’s breath and the music creates a intimate, human element to flute music.

The author suggests that when we hear a flute, regardless of its origin, we’re reminded of this shared human experience of breathing and creating music. This idea of a common human experience through music is why the author feels flute music draws us into “the commonality of all mankind.”

Thinking about Language

I. Read the following sentences carefully to understand the meaning of the italicised phrases. Then match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

  1. A communal war broke outwhen the princess was abducted by the neighbouring prince.
  2. The cockpit broke offfrom the plane during the plane crash.
  3. The car broke down on the way and we were left stranded in the jungle.
  4. The dacoit broke away from the police as they took him to court.
  5. The brothers broke up after the death of the father.
  6. The thief broke into our house when we were away.

Ans.

AB
(i) break out(d) of start suddenly, (usually a fight, a war or a disease)
(ii) break off(a) to come apart due to force
(iii) break down(f) stop working
(iv) break away (from someone)(e) to escape from someone’s grip
(v) break up(b) end a relationship
(vi) break into(c) break and enter illegally; unlawful trespassing

II. 1. Use the suffixes −ion or −tion to form nuns from the following verbs. Make the necessary changes in the spellings of the words.

Example: proclaim − proclamation

Ans.

  • cremate cremation
  • act action
  • exhaust exhaustion
  • invent invention
  • tempt temptation
  • immigrate immigration
  • direct direction
  • meditate meditation
  • imagine imagination
  • dislocate dislocation
  • associate association
  • dedicate dedication

2 . Now fill in the blanks with suitable words from the ones that you have formed.

Ans.

(i) Mass literacy was possible only after the invention of the printing machine.
(ii) Ramesh is unable to tackle the situation as he lacks direction.
(iii) I could not resist the temptation to open the letter.
(iv) Hardwork and dedication are the main keys to success.
(v) The children were almost fainting with exhaustion after being made to stand in the sun.

III. Punctuation

Use capital letter, full stops, question marks, commas and inverted commas wherever necessary in the following paragraph.

an arrogant lion was wandering though the jungle one day he asked the tiger who is stronger than you you O lion replied the tiger who is more fierce than a leopard asked the lion you sir replied the leopard he marched upto an elephant and asked the same question the elephant picked him up in his trunk swung him in the air and threw him down look said the lion there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer

Ans.

An arrogant lion was wandering through the jungle. One day, he asked the tiger, “Who is stronger than you?” “You, O lion!” replied the tiger. “Who is more fierce than a leopard?” asked the lion. “You sir,” replied the leopard. He marched up to an elephant and asked the same question. The elephant picked him up in his trunk, swung him in the air, and threw him down. “Look,” said the lion, “there is no need to get mad just because you don’t know the answer.”

IV. Simple Present Tense

Ans.

i) The heart is a pump that sends the blood circulating through our body. The pumping action takes place when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. This forces the blood out into the arteries, which expands to receive the oncoming blood.

(ii) The African lungfish can live without water for up to four years. During drought, it digs a pit and encloses itself in a capsule of slime and earth, leaving a tiny opening for air. The capsule dries and hardens, but when rain comes, the mud dissolves and the lungfish swims away.

(iii) Mahesh: We have to organise a class party for our teacher. Does anyone play an instrument?
Vipul: Rohit plays the flute.
Mahesh: Does he also act?
Vipul: No, he composes music.
Mahesh: That’s wonderful!

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