Princess September - Reading Comprehension

AP/ NCERT Board-Based Reading Comprehension Grade 8

Supplementary Reader It So Happened 

Chapter 5 Princess September 

Reading Comprehension 1

The King and Queen of Siam had many daughters, and the Queen said that it confused her to have to remember so many names. One day the King decided to call them January, February, March (though of course in Siamese) till he came to the youngest whom he called September.

      The King of Siam had a peculiar habit. Instead of receiving gifts on his birthday he gave them. One year on his birthday, not having anything else handy, he gave each of his daughters a green parrot in a golden cage. The princesses were very proud of their parrots and they spent an hour every day in teaching them to talk. Presently all the parrots could say ‘God save the king’ and some of them could say ‘Pretty Polly’ in no less than seven Oriental languages.

1. Choose the setting of the story

1. Palace 
2. Forest 
3. Village 
4. Heaven 

2. Why did the Princess have their names the names of months?

1. To have fancy names
2. To honour the months
3. To honour God
4. To avoid confusion 

3. How many daughters did the King have?

1. 7
2. 8
3. 9 
4. 6

4. What does the word peculiar mean?

1. Unique 
2. Ordinary
3. Beautiful
4. Expensive 

5. What habit of the King made him different from others?

1. He took gifts on his birthday.
2. He worshipped God on his birthday.
3. He never celebrated his birthday.
4. He gave gifts to others on his birthday. 

Reading Comprehension 2

But one day when Princess September went to say good morning to her parrot she found it lying dead at the bottom of its golden cage. She burst into a flood of tears, and nothing that her Maids of Honour could say comforted her. She cried so much that the Maids of Honour, not knowing what to do, told the Queen, and the Queen said it was stuff and nonsense and the child had better go to bed without any supper. The Maids of Honour wanted to go to a party, so they put Princess September to bed as quickly as they could and left her by herself. And while she lay in her bed, crying still even though she felt rather hungry, she saw a little bird hop into her room. She wiped her tears and sat up. Then the little bird began to sing and he sang a beautiful song all about the lake in the King’s garden and the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water and the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches that were reflected in it. When he had finished, the Princess was not crying any more and she quite forgot that she had had no supper. “That was a very nice song,” she said.

1.Arrange the following statements according to their occurrence in the paragraph.

    A)The Princess wiped her tears and sat up.

    B) The little bird began to sing a beautiful song.

    C) The Princess stopped crying and forgot about her hunger.

    D) The little bird hopped into the room.

1.  C, A, B, D
2.  D, A, B, C 
3.  A, D, C, B
4.  B, A, D, C

2. Say whether the following statement is TRUE / FALSE.

When the Maids of Honour told the Queen, the Queen did not care for the Princess September.

3. The little bird sang a beautiful song all about: 

1.  the lake in the King’s garden 
2.  the willow trees that looked at themselves in the still water 
3.  the goldfish that glided in and out of the branches.
4.  All the above 

4. Fill the gap choosing the right option. The Princess had forgot that she had no supper ___

1.  when the Maids of Honour consoled her. 
2. when she  heard the song of a little bird.
3.  when she found her parrot lying dead. 
4.  when  she visited the lake in the King’s garden.

5. Why did the Maids of Honour put  Princess September to bed as quickly as they could ?

1. Because Princess September had to attend a party.
2. Because Princess September wanted to be alone by herself.
3. Because the Maids of Honour wanted to go to a party. 
4. Because the Princess’s mother  wanted to go to a party.

Reading Comprehension 3

The little bird gave her a bow. “Would you care to have me in place of your parrot?” said the little bird. “It’s true that I’m not so pretty to look at, but on the other hand I have a much better voice.” Princess September clapped her hands with delight and then the little bird hopped on to the end of her bed and sang her to sleep.

 

     When she awoke next day the little bird was still there, and as she opened her eyes he said, “Good morning!” The Maids of Honour brought in her breakfast, and he ate rice out of her hand and he had his bath in her saucer. He began to sing again so beautifully that the Maids of Honour were quite surprised, for they had never heard anything like it, and Princess September was very proud and happy.

1. Who does 'her' refer to in the passage?

1. The Queen 
2. Princess September 
3. Maid of Honour 
4. Princess's sister

2. Choose the TRUE statement from the following. 

1. The parrot has better voice than that of the little bird.
2. The little bird was beautiful and could sing sweetly. 
3. Though the little bird was not beautiful , he had a wonderful voice. 
4. The little bird felt jealous of the beauty of the parrot. 

3. What is the synonym of the word 'delight' in the passage?

1. Happiness  
2. Hatred
3. Annoyance 
4. Trouble

4. " …… the little bird was still there,...". What is the part of speech of the word 'still ' in the passage?

1. Conjunction 
2. Noun
3. Adjective
4. Adverb 

5. Complete the sentence by choosing the right option from the given.  The Maids of Honour were surprised _____________ .

1. to listen to the beautiful songs of the Princess.
2. at the Princess's pride of the little bird. 
3. that they had heard such beautiful songs earlier. 
4. for  they had not heard such a beautiful song.

Reading Comprehension 4

“Now I want to show you to my eight sisters,” said the Princess.

She stretched out the first finger of her right hand so that it served as a perch and the little bird flew down and sat on it. Then, followed by her Maids of Honour, she went through the palace and called on each of the Princesses. And for each of them the little bird sang a different song. But the parrots could only say ‘God save the king’ and ‘Pretty Polly’. At last she showed the little bird to the King and the Queen. They were surprised and delighted.

 

     “I knew I was right to send you to bed without any supper,” said the Queen.

     “This bird sings much better than the parrots,” said the King.

     “I should have thought you got quite tired of hearing people say ‘God save the king’,” said the Queen. “I can’t think why those girls wanted to teach their parrots to say it too.”

     “The sentiment is admirable,” said the King, “and I never mind how often I hear it. But I do get tired of hearing those parrots say ‘Pretty Polly’.”

 

     “They say it in seven different languages,” said the Princesses.

     “I dare say they do,” said the King, “but it reminds me too much of my Councillors. They say the same thing in seven different ways and it never means anything in any way they say it.”

1. What did the little bird do when the Princess stretched out her finger?

1. Flew away
2. Sat on her finger 
3. Sang a song
4. Bite her finger

2. Why did the King get tired of hearing the parrots say "Pretty Polly"?

1. He didn't like parrots
2. The queen didn't like it
3. He preferred the sentiment of "God save the king"
4. He thought it was meaningless like his Councillors' words 

3. What did the little bird do for each of the Princesses?

1. It sang a different song for each Princess 
2. It said 'God save the king' and 'Pretty Polly' for each Princess
3. It flew around the palace with the Princesses
4. It sat on the King's finger and sang a song

4.  What did the King and Queen think of the parrots' ability to talk?

1. They were impressed by the parrots' ability to speak in different languages
2. They found it annoying to hear the parrots say 'Pretty Polly' 
3. They thought the parrots should only say 'God save the king'
4. They were indifferent to the parrots' talking ability

5. Why did the Queen send the Princess to bed without supper?

1. Because the Princess was misbehaving
2. Because the Queen wanted to punish the Princess
3. Because the Queen wanted the Princess to rest before showing the little bird to her sisters
4. Because the Queen was angry with the Princess

Reading Comprehension 5

The Princesses were vexed at this, and the parrots looked very glum indeed. But Princess September ran through all the rooms of the palace, singing like a lark, while the little bird flew round and round her singing like a nightingale.

     Things went on like this for several days and then the eight Princesses put their heads together. They went to September and sat down in a circle round her. “My poor September,” they said, “we are sorry for the death of your beautiful parrot. It must be dreadful for you not to have a pet bird as we have. So we have all put our pocket-money together and we are going to buy you a lovely green and yellow parrot.”

 "Thank you for nothing,” said September. “I have a pet bird which sings the most charming songs to me and I don’t know what on earth I should do with a green and yellow parrot.”

     “Well, my dear,” they said, “it’s absurd to talk of your bird when the little fellow flies in and out just as he likes.” They looked round the room and raised their eyebrows.

 

     “Do you mind our asking where your bird is now?” they said.

 

     “He has gone to pay a visit to his father-in-law,” said Princess September.

     “And what makes you think he’ll come back?” asked the Princesses.

     “He always does come back,” said September.

     “Well, my dear,” said the eight Princesses, “if you’ll take our advice you won’t run any risks like that. If he comes back, and mind you, if he does you’ll be lucky, pop him into the cage and keep him there. That’s the only way you can be sure of him.”

     “But I like to have him fly about the room,” said the young Princess September.

     “Safety first,” said her sisters ominously.

     They got up and walked out of the room, shaking their heads, and they left September very uneasy.

1. What were the Princesses vexed at?

1. The different songs sung by the little bird. 
2. The crying of the Princess September.
3. The death of the Princess’s parrot.
4. The glum look of the parrots.

2. Why did the Princesses offer to buy September a green and yellow parrot?

1.  Because they wanted to make her happy
2.  Because they liked green and yellow parrots
3.  Because they wanted to annoy September
4.  Because they wanted Princess September to leave the little bird        

3. What was the advice given by the Princesses to September regarding her pet bird?

1. To let him fly freely around the room
2. To keep him in a cage at all times 
3. To take him for a walk outside
4. To give him away to someone else

4. What was September's reaction to the advice given by her sisters?

1.  She ignored their advice and continued to let her bird fly freely 
2.  She followed their advice and put her bird in a cage
3. She was unsure of what to do and asked for more advice
4. She got angry and yelled at her sisters

5. Say whether the following statement is ‘True’ or ‘False’

The Princesses were really  sorry for the death of Princess September’s  beautiful parrot. 

Reading Comprehension 6

It seemed to Princess September that her little bird had been away a long time. Something might have happened to him. What with hawks and with snares you never knew what trouble he might get into. Besides, he might forget her, or he might take a fancy to somebody else. That would be dreadful. She wished he were safely back again.

 

     Suddenly September heard a ‘tweet-tweet’ just behind her ear and she saw the little bird sitting on her shoulder. He had come in so quietly and alighted so softly that she had not heard him.

     “I wondered what on earth had become of you,” said the Princess.

     “I thought you’d wonder that,” said the little bird. “The fact is I very nearly didn’t come back tonight at all. My father-in-law was giving a party and they all wanted me to stay, but I thought you’d be anxious.”

     Under the circumstances this was a very unfortunate remark for the little bird to make.

1. Where did the little bird go?

1. He went to pay a visit to the King.
2. He went to pay a visit to his father-in-law. 
3. He went to pay a visit to his friend.
4. He went to pay a visit to the other Princesses in the palace.

2. Tick the dreadful thoughts of Princess September that she felt when the little bird had been away from her. 

1. The little bird was away from the Princesses.
2. The little bird might forget Princess September.
3. The little bird  might take a fancy to somebody else. 
4. The little bird would  come back again.

3. Which of the following is an example of foreshadowing in the given passage?

1.  "The fact is I very nearly didn't come back tonight at all." 
2.  "My father-in-law was giving a party and they all wanted me to stay."
3.  "I thought you'd be anxious."
4.   None of the above.                        

4. What was the reason for the little bird's delay in returning?

1.  The passage does not provide this information.
2.  He was busy with work.
3.  He was attending a party. 
4.  He was lost.

5. What is the meaning of the word ‘fancy'?

1. taste
2. love 
3. refuse
4. hate

6. Did the little bird forget about Princess September while he was away? Which sentence from the passage tells it? 

1. Yes.“I thought you’d wonder”.
2. Yes. “They all wanted me to stay”
3. No. “I thought you’d be anxious.” 
4. No. “ My father-in-law was giving a party”.

Reading Comprehension 7

September felt her heart go thump against her chest, and she made up her mind to take no more risks. She put up her hand and took hold of the bird. The bird suspected nothing and he was so surprised when she carried him over to the cage, popped him in, and shut the door on him that for a moment he could think of nothing to say. But in a moment or two he hopped up to the ivory perch and said, “What is the joke?”

 "There’s no joke,” said September, “but some of mamma’s cats are prowling about tonight, and I think you’re much safer in there.”

 

     “Well, just for this once I don’t mind,” said the little bird, “so long as you let me out in the morning.”

     He ate a very good supper and then began to sing. But in the middle of his song he stopped.

 

     “I don’t know what is the matter with me,” he said, “but I don’t feel like singing tonight.”

 

     “Very well,” said September, “go to sleep instead.”

So he put his head under his wing and in a minute was fast asleep. September went to sleep too. But when the dawn broke she was awakened by the little bird calling her at the top of his voice.

 

     “Wake up, wake up,” he said. “Open the door of this cage and let me out. I want to have a good fly while the dew is still on the ground.”

 

     “You are much better off where you are,” said September.

1. Complete the sentence by choosing the right option given.  The Princess  made up her mind to take no more risks so  ____________________ .

1. she allowed the little bird to stay in the room outside the cage.
2. she put the bird in the cage.
3. she  felt her heart go thump against her chest.
4. she gave good supper to the bird that night.

2. Did Princess September really  put the bird in the cage as some of mamma’s cats were prowling about that night?

1. Yes. 
2. No. 

3. Why didn’t the little bird feel like singing that night?

1. He had a good supper that night.
2. He wanted to sleep well that night.
3. He was caged and not so free.
4. He was hungry as he didn’t have supper.

4. Considering the passage , arrange the following sentences in the correct order:

    A) September carried the bird to the cage and shut the door on him.

    B) The little bird ate a good supper and then began to sing.

    C)September woke up to the little bird calling her to let him out of the cage.

    D) The little bird asked September to let him out of the cage to fly in the morning.

    E) The little bird put his head under his wing and fell asleep.

1.  A, C, B, E, D.
2.  E, B, A, D, C. 
3. B, E, D, C, A.
4. C, D, E, A, B.

5. Say whether the following statement is ‘True’ or ‘False’.

When the bird  wanted to have a good fly while the dew was still on the ground , the Princess opened the door of the cage. 

Reading Comprehension 8

“Let me out, let me out,” said the little bird. And he tried to slip through the bars of the cage, but of course couldn’t, and he beat against the door, but of course he couldn’t open it. Then the eight Princesses came in and looked at him. They told September she was very wise to take their advice. They said he would soon get used to the cage and in a few days would quite forget he had ever been free. The little bird said nothing at all while they were there, but as soon as they were gone he began to cry again: “Let me out, let me out.”

 “Don’t be such an old silly,” said September. “I’ve put you in the cage because I’m so fond of you. I know what’s good for you much better than you do yourself. Sing me a little song and I’ll give you a piece of sugar.”

 

     But the little bird stood in the corner of his cage looking out at the blue sky, and never sang a note.

     “What’s the good of sulking?” said September. “Why don’t you sing and forget your troubles?”

     “How can I sing?” answered the bird. “I want to see the trees and the lake and the green rice growing in the fields.”

     “I’ll take you out every day,” she said.

     “It’s not the same thing,” said the little bird. “The rice-fields and the lake and the willow trees look quite different when you see them through the bars of a cage.”

1. The Princesses told September she was very wise to take their advice. Do you think  Princess September was really wise? .

1. Yes.
2. No. 

2. What is the correct order of the sentences according to the passage?

    A) The eight Princesses came in and looked at him.

    B) September told the bird that she put him in the cage because she was fond of him.

    C) The bird tried to slip through the bars of the cage and beat against the door.

    D) The little bird refused to sing and wanted to see the trees and the lake.

    E) The Princesses said the bird would soon forget he had ever been free.

    F) September promised to take the bird out every day.

1. A, F, D, E, B, C.
2. C, A, E, B, D, F 
3. B, E, A, F, C, D.
4. F, D, B, C, E, A.

3. “It’s not the same thing”. What are the two things that the bird compared?

1. Staying in the cage and singing songs.
2. Flying in the sky and singing songs.
3. Looking at Nature through the bars of the cage and while flying freely. 
4. Green fields and the willow trees.

4. What did the bird want to have? 

1. Food and shelter.
2. Princesses’ Company.
3. King’s association.
4. Freedom of life.

5. Why did Princess September put the little bird in the cage?

1. Because she didn't like the bird.
2. Because she was fond of the bird. 
3. Because she wanted to protect the bird.
4. Because she knew how to grow birds.

Reading Comprehension 9

The bird wouldn’t sing a song and he wouldn’t eat a thing. The Princess was a little anxious at this, and asked her sisters what they thought about it.

     “You must be firm,” they said.

     “But if he won’t eat, he’ll die,” she answered.

     “That would be very ungrateful of him,” they said. “He must know that you’re only thinking of his own good. If he’s obstinate and dies it’ll serve him right and you’ll be well rid of him.”

 

     September didn’t see how that was going to do her very much good, but they were eight to one and all older than she, so she said nothing.

     “Perhaps he’ll have got used to his cage by tomorrow,” she said.

And next day when she awoke she cried out good morning in a cheerful voice. She got no answer. She jumped out of bed and ran to the cage. She gave a startled cry, for there the little bird lay, at the bottom, on his side, with his eyes closed, and he looked as if he were dead. She opened the door and putting her hand in lifted him out. She gave a sob of relief, for she felt that his little heart was beating still.

“Wake up, wake up, little bird,” she said.

     She began to cry and her tears fell on the little bird. He opened his eyes and saw that the bars of the cage were no longer around him.

     “I cannot sing unless I’m free, and if I cannot sing I die,” he said.

     The Princess gave a great sob.

     "Then take your freedom,” she said. “I shut you in a golden cage because I loved you and wanted to have you all to myself. But I never knew it would kill you. I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way.”

1. Which of the following best describes the Princess's initial reaction to the bird's behaviour?

1.  Angry
2.  Anxious 
3.  Indifferent
4.  Confused

2. What did the Princess's sisters suggest she could do about the bird's refusal to eat?

1. Force him to eat
2. Leave him alone
3. Be firm with him 
4. Give him more time

3. What did the bird say was necessary for him to sing?

1. A golden cage
2. Food and water
3. Freedom 
4.  A mate

4. Why did the Princess cry when the bird appeared to be dead in the cage?

1. She was afraid of her sisters' reactions
2. She felt guilty for keeping him in a cage. 
3. She was sad to lose a pet 
4.  She was angry at the bird for not eating

5. What lesson did the Princess learn from her experience with the bird?

1. To never keep pets in cages
2. To always listen to her sisters' advice
3. To be patient with animals
4. To love someone enough to let them be happy in their own way. 

Reading Comprehension 10

She threw open the window and gently placed the little bird on the sill. He shook himself a little.

     “Come and go as you will, little bird,” she said. “I will never put you in a cage any more.”

 

     “I will come because I love you, little Princess,” said the bird. “And I will sing you the loveliest songs I know. I shall go far away, but I shall always come back and I shall never forget you.” He gave himself another shake. “Good gracious me, how stiff I am,” he exclaimed.

Then he opened his wings and flew right away into the blue. But the little Princess burst into tears, for it is very difficult to put the happiness of someone you love before your own, and with her little bird far out of sight she felt, all of a sudden, very lonely. When her sisters knew what had happened they mocked her and said that the little bird would never return. But he did, at last. And he sat on September’s shoulder and ate out of her hand and sang her the beautiful songs he had learned while he was flying up and down the fair places of the world. September kept her window open day and night so that the little bird might come into her room whenever he felt inclined, and this was very good for her; so she grew extremely beautiful.

And when she was old enough she married the King of Cambodia and was carried on a white elephant all the way to the city in which the King lived. But her sisters never slept with their windows open, so they grew extremely ugly as well as disagreeable, and when the time came to marry them off they were given away to the King’s Councillors with a pound of tea and a Siamese cat.

1. What did the little bird do after being placed on the windowsill?

1. Flew away and never returned
2. Sang a beautiful song and flew away
3. Stayed with the little Princess forever
4. Flew away but promised to come back and sing for the Princess

2. Why did the little Princess cry after releasing the bird?

1. She was afraid of the bird.
2. She was happy to see the bird fly away.
3. She felt lonely without the bird.
4.  She was angry at her sisters for mocking her.

3. What did the little bird do when he returned to the Princess?

1. Sat on her shoulder and ate out of her hand.
2. Flew around the room and made a mess
3. Ignored the Princess and flew away again
4. Sang a sad song and then flew away

4. How did keeping her window open benefit the little Princess?

1. It made her room smell better
2. It allowed the little bird to come and go as he pleased.
3. It made her sisters jealous
4. It made her more beautiful

5. What happened to the little Princess's sisters when they didn't keep their windows open?

1. They became rich and famous
2. They grew extremely beautiful
3. They grew extremely ugly and disagreeable 
4. They were given away as gifts to the King's Councillors

6. What happened to the little bird and how did it affect the little Princess? Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order:

    A) The little bird flew away into the blue when he grew strong enough to do so.

    B) The little Princess felt lonely and burst into tears when her little bird flew away.

    C)The little bird returned and sat on September's shoulder, singing beautiful songs he had learned.

    D)September kept her window open day and night so the little bird could come into her room.

    E) The little Princess grew extremely beautiful while her sisters grew ugly and disagreeable.

1. C-E-A-B-D
2. B-A-D-C-E 
3. D-C-E-A-B
4. E-B-C-D-A