The Adventures of Toto - Reading Comprehension Passages

Reading Comprehension Passages For Grade 9 
Supplementary Reader Moments

Chapter-2 The Adventures of Toto

Reading Comprehension 1 

 GRANDFATHER bought Toto from a tonga-driver for the sum of five rupees. The tonga-driver used to keep the little red monkey tied to a feeding-trough, and the monkey looked so out of place there that Grandfather decided he would add the little fellow to his private zoo.

 

     Toto was a pretty monkey. His bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eyebrows, and his teeth, which were a pearly white, were very often displayed in a smile that frightened the life out of elderly Anglo-lndian ladies. But his hands looked dried-up as though they had been pickled in the sun for many years. Yet his fingers were quick and wicked; and his tail, while adding to his good looks (Grandfather believed a tail would add to anyone’s good looks), also served as a third hand. He could use it to hang from a branch; and it was capable of scooping up any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands.

1. What did Grandfather buy Toto for?

   a) Two rupees

   b) Ten rupees

   c) Five rupees

   d) Twenty rupees

2. Where was Toto kept by the tonga-driver before Grandfather bought him?

   a) In a private zoo

   b) Tied to a feeding-trough

   c) In a cage at the market

   d) On a tree branch

3. What scared elderly Anglo-Indian ladies about Toto's smile?

   a) His bright eyes

   b) His mischievous nature

   c) His pearly white teeth

   d) His quick and wicked fingers

4. How did Toto's tail contribute to his appearance?

   a) It made him look more mischievous.

   b) It scared the life out of people.

   c) It made his hands look dried-up.

   d) It added to his good looks and acted as a third hand.

5. What could Toto do with his tail?

   a) Pick up delicate items with precision.

   b) Hang from a tree branch.

   c) Smile and frighten people.

   d) Scoop up food from a feeding-trough.

Reading Comprehension 2     

Grandmother always fussed when Grandfather brought home some new bird or animal. So it was decided that Toto’s presence should be kept a secret from her until she was in a particularly good mood. Grandfather and I put him away in a little closet opening into my bedroom wall, where he was tied securely — or so we thought — to a peg fastened into the wall.

 

     A few hours later, when Grandfather and I came back to release Toto, we found that the walls, which had been covered with some ornamental paper chosen by Grandfather, now stood out as naked brick and plaster. The peg in the wall had been wrenched from its socket, and my school blazer, which had been hanging there, was in shreds. I wondered what Grandmother would say. But Grandfather didn’t worry; he seemed pleased with Toto’s performance.

 

     “He’s clever,” said Grandfather. “Given time, I’m sure he could have tied the torn pieces of your blazer into a rope, and made his escape from the window!”

 

     His presence in the house still a secret, Toto was now transferred to a big cage in the servants’ quarters where a number of Grandfather’s pets lived very sociably together — a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel and, for a while, my pet goat. But the monkey wouldn’t allow any of his companions to sleep at night; so Grandfather, who had to leave Dehra Dun next day to collect his pension in Saharanpur, decided to take him along.

1. Why was Toto's presence kept a secret from Grandmother? a) She was afraid of animals. b) She didn't like Grandfather's pets. c) She always fussed when new animals were brought home. d) She preferred to keep the house tidy. 2. Where was Toto initially kept hidden? a) In the servants' quarters b) In a little closet in the bedroom wall c) In a big cage in the garden d) In the living room 3. What happened to the bedroom wall when Grandfather and the narrator returned to release Toto? a) The walls were covered with ornamental paper. b) The walls were covered with paintings. c) The walls were left bare with naked brick and plaster. d) The walls were torn down. 4. Why was Grandfather pleased with Toto's performance despite the damage caused? a) Toto had learned a new trick. b) Toto had made friends with the other pets. c) Toto had escaped through the window. d) Toto had shown his cleverness and resourcefulness. 5. Where was Toto transferred to after being kept in the little closet? a) The living room cage b) The narrator's bedroom c) The servants' quarters cage d) The pet goat's enclosure

Reading Comprehension 3   

Unfortunately I could not accompany Grandfather on that trip, but he told me about it afterwards. A big black canvas kit-bag was provided for Toto. This, with some straw at the bottom, became his new abode. When the bag was closed, there was no escape. Toto could not get his hands through the opening, and the canvas was too strong for him to bite his way through. His efforts to get out only had the effect of making the bag roll about on the floor or occasionally jump into the air — an exhibition that attracted a curious crowd of onlookers on the Dehra Dun railway platform.

      Toto remained in the bag as far as Saharanpur, but while Grandfather was producing his ticket at the railway turnstile, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag and gave the ticket-collector a wide grin.

      The poor man was taken aback; but, with great presence of mind and much to Grandfather’s annoyance, he said, “Sir, you have a dog with you. You’ll have to pay for it accordingly.”

      In vain did Grandfather take Toto out of the bag; in vain did he try to prove that a monkey did not qualify as a dog, or even as a quadruped. Toto was classified a dog by the ticket-collector; and three rupees was the sum handed over as his fare.

      Then Grandfather, just to get his own back, took from his pocket our pet tortoise, and said, “What must I pay for this, since you charge for all animals?”

1. What was Toto's new abode during the trip to Saharanpur? a) A big black canvas kit-bag b) A cage with straw at the bottom c) A comfortable pet carrier d) The servants' quarters cage 2. What happened when Toto tried to escape from the canvas kit-bag? a) He successfully opened the bag and escaped. b) The bag rolled about on the floor or jumped into the air. c) Onlookers on the platform helped him get out. d) He was caught by the ticket-collector. 3. How did the ticket-collector react when Toto poked his head out of the bag? a) He laughed and let Toto go without a fare. b) He charged Grandfather extra for carrying Toto. c) He recognized Toto as a monkey and didn't charge anything. d) He was confused and left the decision to Grandfather. 4. What did the ticket-collector classify Toto as? a) A monkey b) A quadruped c) A dog d) A pet 5. How did Grandfather respond to the ticket-collector's decision? a) He argued that Toto was not an animal. b) He paid the extra fare without any protest. c) He refused to pay for Toto and walked away. d) He showed another pet to mock the decision.

Reading Comprehension 4    

The ticket-collector looked closely at the tortoise, prodded it with his forefinger, gave Grandfather a pleased and triumphant look, and said, “No charge. It is not a dog.”

      When Toto was finally accepted by Grandmother he was given a comfortable home in the stable, where he had for a companion the family donkey, Nana. On Toto’s first night in the stable, Grandfather paid him a visit to see if he was comfortable. To his surprise he found Nana, without apparent cause, pulling at her halter and trying to keep her head as far as possible from a bundle of hay.

     Grandfather gave Nana a slap across her haunches, and she jerked back, dragging Toto with her. He had fastened on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth.

     Toto and Nana never became friends.

     A great treat for Toto during cold winter evenings was the large bowl of warm water given him by Grandmother for his bath. He would cunningly test the temperature with his hand, then gradually step into the bath, first one foot, then the other (as he had seen me doing), until he was into the water up to his neck. Once comfortable, he would take the soap in his hands or feet, and rub himself all over. When the water became cold, he would get out and run as quickly as he could to the kitchen-fire in order to dry himself. If anyone laughed at him during this performance, Toto’s feelings would be hurt and he would refuse to go on with his bath. 

1. How did the ticket-collector react when he saw the tortoise? a) He prodded it with his finger and charged extra fare. b) He identified it as a dog and charged extra fare. c) He was pleased and didn't charge anything. d) He asked Grandfather to keep the tortoise away. 2. Where did Grandfather decide to keep Toto after he was accepted by Grandmother? a) In the bedroom closet b) In the servants' quarters cage c) In the stable with the family donkey, Nana d) In the pet goat's enclosure 3. Why did Nana, the family donkey, react when Toto was in the stable with her? a) She tried to befriend Toto. b) She ignored Toto completely. c) She pulled at her halter and avoided a bundle of hay. d) She played with Toto using her long ears. 4. What did Toto do with the large bowl of warm water given by Grandmother? a) He tested the water temperature with his hand. b) He immediately jumped into the water up to his neck. c) He used soap to wash himself all over. d) He refused to take a bath if someone laughed at him. 5. What was Toto's reaction if someone laughed at him during his bath? a) He would become angry and splash water. b) He would continue his bath as if nothing happened. c) He would refuse to go on with his bath. d) He would invite others to join him in the bath.

Reading Comprehension 5    

One day Toto nearly succeeded in boiling himself alive.

 

     A large kitchen kettle had been left on the fire to boil for tea and Toto, finding himself with nothing better to do, decided to remove the lid. Finding the water just warm enough for a bath, he got in, with his head sticking out from the open kettle. This was just fine for a while, until the water began to boil. Toto then raised himself a little; but, finding it cold outside, sat down again. He continued hopping up and down for some time, until Grandmother arrived and hauled him, half-boiled, out of the kettle.

 

     If there is a part of the brain especially devoted to mischief, that part was largely developed in Toto. He was always tearing things to pieces. Whenever one of my aunts came near him, he made every effort to get hold of her dress and tear a hole in it.

1. What nearly happened to Toto one day? a) He almost drowned in a bathtub. b) He nearly fell off a tree branch. c) He almost succeeded in boiling himself alive. d) He nearly got stuck in a hole. 2. Why did Toto get into the large kitchen kettle? a) He wanted to hide from Grandmother. b) He thought it was a bathtub with warm water. c) He was trying to find something to eat inside. d) He was curious about the boiling water. 3. How did Toto react when the water in the kettle started to boil? a) He jumped out of the kettle immediately. b) He remained in the kettle and enjoyed the warmth. c) He raised himself a little but found it cold outside. d) He started crying and making loud noises. 4. What did Grandmother do when she saw Toto in the kettle? a) She scolded Toto and left him there. b) She turned off the fire and let Toto out. c) She hauled Toto out of the kettle while he was half-boiled. d) She called for help to rescue Toto. 5. What was one of Toto's mischievous behaviors? a) Climbing trees and hiding. b) Stealing food from the kitchen. c) Tearing things to pieces. d) Trying to escape from the house.

Reading Comprehension  6  

  One day, at lunch-time, a large dish of pullao stood in the centre of the dining-table. We entered the room to find Toto stuffing himself with rice. My grandmother screamed — and Toto threw a plate at her. One of my aunts rushed forward — and received a glass of water in the face. When Grandfather arrived, Toto picked up the dish of pullao and made his exit through a window. We found him in the branches of the jackfruit tree, the dish still in his arms. He remained there all afternoon, eating slowly through the rice, determined on finishing every grain. And then, in order to spite Grandmother, who had screamed at him, he threw the dish down from the tree, and chattered with delight when it broke into a hundred pieces.

 

     Obviously Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long. Even Grandfather realised that. We were not well-to-do, and could not afford the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper. So Grandfather found the tonga-driver, and sold Toto back to him — for only three rupees.

1. What was Toto doing when they found him at the dining-table? a) Playing with a plate b) Stuffing himself with rice c) Drinking water from a glass d) Hiding under the table 2. How did Toto react when my grandmother screamed at him during lunch? a) He threw a plate at her. b) He hid under the table. c) He ran away through a window. d) He ignored her and continued eating. 3. Where did they find Toto after the lunchtime incident with the pullao? a) In the garden b) In the kitchen c) In the branches of a jackfruit tree d) Under the dining table 4. Why did Grandfather decide to sell Toto back to the tonga-driver? a) Toto was causing a mess and destroying things in the house. b) Toto didn't like living with them anymore. c) They couldn't afford to keep him as a pet. d) Grandfather found a better pet to replace Toto. 5. How much did Grandfather sell Toto back to the tonga-driver for? a) Three rupees b) Five rupees c) Ten rupees d) One rupee