NCERT Solution for Class 10 English : Footprints Without Feet – Chapter 9 The Book that Saved the Earth

NCERT solution is a great help to students. Students can check the understanding of the chapter by solving NCERT solution.

Read and Find Out

Question.1. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
Answer. The twentieth century was called the ‘Era of the Book’. It was because there were books about everything. These were from anteaters to Zulus. Then books taught the people almost everything.

Question.2. Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty-first century?
Answer. Martians tried to invade the Earth in the twenty first century.

Question.3. What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on earth?
Answer. Think-Tank first states that the books have been found on earth. These may be ‘sandwiches’. These may be for eye communication. Finally, these are ‘high explosives’.

Think About It

Question.1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
Answer. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank while correcting his mistakes by presenting his own thoughts, but referring to them as being of no particular importance. Whenever he had to say something contrary to what Think-Tank said, he would do this.

In this way he would correct Think-Tank’s errors without making Think-Tank feel that he was being corrected.

Question.2. If you were in Noodle’s place, how would you handle Think-Tank’s mistakes?
Answer. If I were in his place, I would do the same. I would politely and gently suggest the corrections.

Question.3. Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?
Answer. Yes, these days online reading has replaced traditional books to a large extent. Internet, facebook, twitter etc. have decreased interest in reading. But, the truth is that books cannot be totally replaced. Books can never go out of life although they may exist in a different form.

Question.4. Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which is your favourite book and why? Write a paragraph about that book.
Answer. A book is a man’s best companion because it is always there. It never leaves us alone. It is there with us even when everyone else is gone. Books ‘ guide us, instruct us, make us laugh, inform us, inspire us and are always true to us. My favourite book is Peter Pan. It is a fairy tale. I love the character of Peter. He lives in fantasies. He is a child who never wants to grow up and he never does’ He enjoys thrills and adventures and even takes the kids from Earth on a merry adventure.

The book inspires as it shows that one can remain a child at heart forever. The sense of wonder, innocence, purity and joy and a ‘ capacity to dream can stay in the human heart forever.

Talk About It

Question.1. In what ways does Think-Tank misinterpret innocent nursery rhymes as threats to the Martians? Can you think of42-15 any incidents where you misinterpreted a word or an action? How did you resolve the misunderstanding?
Answer. The words like ‘shell’ and ‘silver’ make Think-Tank think that humans grew them in farms. Then, there is a line about ‘cow’ and ‘ ‘moon’. Also, the picture of Humpty-Dumpy and the rhyme of ‘great fall’ make Think-Tank think that humans were about to invade Mars. Yes, I had a similar misunderstanding with a friend. But, I was fortunate as I got to know the actual truth just in time. I did not believe what I had heard earlier.

Question.2. The aliens in the play speak English. Do you think this is their language? What could be the language of aliens?
Answer. No, English was not their language. If it had been so, they would not have thought that it is some code and they would not have misinterpreted the nursery rhymes. They could be speaking some Martian language.