NCERT Solutions for Class-9 English Chapter 9 THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST | English Moments
THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
Summary: This story is about bad experiences during air flights. The author finds himself uncomfortable during his travelling by air and was never able to enjoy them nicely. He was filled with wonder at the number of things that other people do very easily. For him living in the real world is perhaps the most difficult thing. Bill is a frequent air traveler. He described an experience when he was to travel to England on a big trip at Easter. His problems started when he was not able to open his carry on bag. Its zip had jammed. So he pulled on it and suddenly the zip gave away. The side of the bag flew open and every thing within— newspaper cutting, tobacco pipe, magazines, passport, English money, etc. were scattered in a huge area. He also injured his finger and it was bleeding now.
Another time when the narrator leaned over at his seat to tie a shoelace just at the moment someone in the seat ahead of him threw his seat back into full recline and found himself pinned helplessly in the crash position. It was only by clawing the leg of the man sitting next to him that he managed to get himself freed.
Besides it, on another occasion, the narrator knocked a soft drink onto the lap of a sweet little lady sitting beside him. The flight attendant came and cleaned her up, and brought him a replacement drink, and instantly he knocked it onto the woman again. This, however, was not his worst experience on a plane. His worst experience was when he was writing important thoughts in a notebook, sucking thoughtfully on the end of his pen and it fell into conversation with an attractive young lady in the next seat. After 20 minutes the narrator found that the pen had leaked and that his mouth, chin, tongue, teeth and gums were now navy blue.
The narrator never did get his frequent flyer miles. Sometimes he couldn't find the card in time. This has become a real frustration for the narrator.
NCERT Solutions for Class-9 English Chapter 9 THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST | English Moments
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
THINK ABOUT
Q. 1. Bill Bryson says, "I am, in short, easily confused." What examples has given to justify this?
Ans. Bill Bryson never had a pleasant journey. He got easily confused. Citing examples he said that he could not easily find lavatory in a cinema hall and finally found himself standing nearby a self-locking door. At the hotels too, he asked his room number many a time in a day.
Q. 2. What happens when the zip on his carry-on bag gives way?
Ans. The author got much confused in that condition. He pulled it forcefully but it did not glove a little bit. When he tried more forcefully abruptly the zip gave way the bag flew open. Newspaper cuttings, loose papers, tobacco packet, magazines, passport, English money and film spread over a large area.
Q. 3. Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife's reaction ?
Ans. His finger gashed while he tried to pull the zip forcefully and it started bleeding. At this his wife looked at him with an expression of wonder and remarked, "I can't believe you do this for a living".
Q.4. How does Bill Bryson end up in a "Crash position" in the aircraft ?
Ans. Once while he was travelling in an aeroplane, he leaned over to lack up his shoe. As soon as he leaned over for this purpose, someone in the seat ahead of him threw his seat back. Thus, the author ended up in a "crash position".
Q. 5. Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?
Ans. Strange things used to happen with him. It was his worst experience. He was sucking on the end of his pen while writing important thoughts. He was lost in talking with an attractive lady and could not notice the leakage in the pen. When he visited the lavatory he found his teeth and gums navy blue.
NCERT Solutions for Class-9 English Chapter 9 THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST | English Moments
Q. 6. Bill Bryson "ached to be suave". Is he successful in his mission? List his ‘unsuave’ ways.
Ans. It is quite clear that Bill Bryson ached to be suave. He is not successful in his mission. He got himself in a car and closed the door without leaving 14 inches of coal outside, wore light-coloured trousers without at the end of the day that he had at various times sat on chewing gum, ice cream, cough syrup and motor oil.
Q. 7. Why do you think Bill Bryson's wife says to the children, "Take the lids off the food for Daddy"?
Ans. Bill Bryson's wife was aware of the travelling habits of her husband. To avoid any awkward situation, she says, "Take the lids off the food for Daddy" as she did not like her husband to take the lead off the food in his particular style.
Q. 8. What is the significance of the title?
Ans. The title is quite significant. After going through the whole story it becomes quite vivid that Bill Bryson is The Accidental Tourist. There are various such examples which prove the appropriateness of the title. The title itself suggests about the various strange and accidental experiences of the author.
NCERT Solutions for Class-9 English Chapter 9 THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST | English Moments
TALK ABOUT IT
Q. 1. To get confused and behave in ‘unsuave' ways like Bill Bryson is normal and, human. Tell your class about any similar situation that you found yourself in.
Ans. On January 1, 2006 I was invited to attend a party in a hotel. I was excited about it. When sitting round the table we were discussing about our past experiences, I got up to attend a telephonic call and moved outside. I was in such a hurry that I did not notice the waiter coming. I hit the tray and all the edibles fell upon the ladies and gentlemen sitting over there. Their clothes went dirty and they became furious. They started criticising me for my carelessness. It was such a scene where I felt embarrased. I left the party at once.
NCERT Solutions for Class-9 English Chapter 9 THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST | English Moments
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Why does Bill Bryson fill with wonder?
Ans. Bill Bryson is filled with wonder at the number of things that other people do without any difficulty. The situation with Bryson was different. Even a mild incident took the form of an accident in his case. He felt easily confused.
Q. 2. Where did the trouble start with the author?
Ans. It was at Logan Airport in Boston when the checking process was going on. The author remembered that he had recently joined British Airways' frequent flyer programme and put the card in the carry on bag. It was here where the trouble started.
Q. 3. What happened when the author knocked a soft drink onto the lap of a sweet little lady?
Ans. While travelling it used to happen with the author that strange accidents took place. When he knocked a soft drink onto the flight attendant came and cleaned her up. He brought drink for the author but again it knocked onto her lap.
Q. 4. What was author’s worst experience on a plane flight?
Ans. He was sucking on the end of his pen while writing important thoughts. He was involved in talking with an attractive lady and could not notice the leakage in the pen. It became his worst experience when he found his teeth, chin, tongue and gums navy blue.
Q. 5. The author is not entitled to air miles. Why?
Ans. When the author presented his card, the clerk shook her head saying that the names written on the card and the ticket did not match. He tried to persuade her but in vain. So, the author was not entitled to air miles.
NCERT Solutions for Class-9 English Chapter 9 THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST | English Moments
II. LONG ANSWER
TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Write the character sketch of Bill Bryson.
Ans. Bill Bryson was an accidental tourist. He tried to do all things properly. But he could not do so and got easily confused. Whenever he travelled by air he did one or the other mischief. His memory was not sharp. He forgot soon and returned to the hotel desk frequently just to ask his room number. He tried to take precautions while taking meal but it also proved to be a mistake. He could not avoid making mistakes. He stopped eating or drinking on a plane. He tried to mend his habits. He wanted to be civilised and polite but God did not allow him to be so. He was not capable of getting the benefits offered by different airlines. He had to face frustration many times. He could not find lavatory easily.
Q. 2. Bill Bryson must fly 100000 miles a year but he did not get his air miles. Why?
Ans. No doubt, Bill Bryson was an accidental traveller. He got confused even at small things. It was due to his confusion that he could not take the advantage of the schemes provided by different airlines. He could not find the card when it was required. He could accumulate only, about 212 air miles divided between twenty three airlines. This was because he forgot to ask for the air miles when he checked in. He was in the habit of getting confused and sometime he got others confused. His name on the ticket and the card did not match. So, the clerk shook her head and he was not entitled for a first class flight to Bali. He missed the opportunity due to his absent-mindedness. On every occasion he made a mistake.